Opinion ID: 1802482
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure of Harris's Counsel to Maintain Continuity of Representation

Text: We granted Harris's certiorari petition to consider her claim that the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in rejecting, based on procedural grounds, her argument that her trial counsel were ineffective in that they failed to maintain continuity of representation. The Court of Criminal Appeals held that that claim was procedurally precluded under Rule 32.2(a)(3), Ala. R.Crim. P., because it could have been, but was not, raised at trial. Harris I, 947 So.2d at 1133-34. Harris argues that her claim could not realistically have been raised at trial, because, she contends: To do so would have required one of Mrs. Harris's nine assigned attorneys to appreciate and articulateamid the revolving door of attorney dismissals, withdrawals and appointments that forms the basis of this claimtheir inability to form the necessary bond with a client facing the gravest of charges, and their resulting ineffective assistance. (Harris's brief in support of petition at 51.) Harris concedes in her brief that, while she was represented by 11 different attorneys before her trial started, 1 of those attorneys was appointed approximately 9 months before her trial started and another was appointed approximately 3 months before her trial started. Those two attorneys represented Harris throughout the guilt and sentencing phases of trial. Harris's trial counsel had at least nine months in which to consider whether the fact that Harris had been represented by so many different pretrial attorneys amounted to ineffective assistance. Therefore, we agree with the Court of Criminal Appeals that that claim is procedurally barred because it could have been, but was not, raised at trial.