Opinion ID: 1317185
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Effective Representation of Counsel

Text: Defendant's cross-appeal urges that his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel was denied. We disagree. A defendant is entitled to receive the reasonably competent assistance of an attorney acting as his diligent conscientious advocate. United States v. DeCoster, 487 F.2d 1197, 1202 (D.C.Cir.1973); Stroup v. People, 656 P.2d 680, 683-84 (Colo.1982); Jacobs, 198 Colo. at 79, 596 P.2d at 1189; U.S. Const. amend. VI; Colo. Const. art. II, sec. 16. However, defendants are not constitutionally entitled to representation free from error. U.S. v. Crouthers, 669 F.2d 635 (10th Cir.1982); People v. Velasquez, 641 P.2d 943 (Colo.1982). In support of his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant contends that his attorney's failure to raise IAD speedy trial defenses demonstrates ineffective representation. At the Crim.P. 35(c) hearing, his trial attorney, who had over five years of experience representing criminal defendants, testified that their [7] strategy throughout the long series of continuances and other delays was to put off the trial for as long as possible so that the prosecution might make a serious error, witnesses' memories might deteriorate, or witnesses may become unavailable. He also testified that there's no doubt defendant absolutely understood that, to obtain these delays, he would have to waive his speedy trial rights. See Crim.P. 48(b)(6); see IAD Article IV(c), section 24-60-501, C.R.S.1973 (1982 Repl.Vol. 10). After so many delays had been obtained, trial counsel believed that defendant did not have a meritorious speedy trial claim. We conclude that, under these circumstances, failure to raise IAD speedy trial claims does not fall below the level of reasonably competent assistance of an attorney acting as defendant's diligent conscientious advocate. [8] Defendant also asserts that his trial attorney's failure to exercise a peremptory challenge to a juror who was casually acquainted with one of the victims of the crime in question constitutes ineffective representation. We disagree. During jury selection, the prosecutor stated that he would not call that particular victim as a witness. The prosecutor kept his promise. Defendant's trial counsel testified that he chose not to challenge this juror because he did not want the other jurors to think that defendant had anything to hide. Their only defense on the merits was to question the identification of the defendant as the perpetrator, and defendant's lawyer felt that excluding this juror might affect that defense in the minds of the other jurors. This decision was merely a matter of trial strategy and does not equate with ineffective assistance of counsel. People v. Moody, 630 P.2d 74 (Colo.1981). Next, the defendant testified that his lawyer did not meet with him prior to his preliminary hearing. Defendant asserts that this shows ineffective representation. Defendant's trial attorney testified that, even though he had no specific recollection of meeting with defendant prior to his preliminary hearing, it was his practice to do so when representing criminal defendants, and he had no recollection of not following this practice with the defendant. The district court found that under these circumstances the defendant had not met his burden of showing ineffective representation. We find no reason to disturb the trial court's ruling. Defendant also claims that his trial lawyer's failure to preserve for appeal his objection to statements made by the prosecutor during closing arguments demonstrates ineffective assistance of counsel. The prosecutor said: Now, Angela [Abeyta, a witness in this case [9] ] was in fact charged with nine counts of aggravated robbery. This case was plea bargained. [Defendant's trial attorney] would suggest to you that was given to her to testify. But I submit, and you can use your common sense, that if Angela Abeyta had been in trial here for aggravated robbery, same instructions you are going to get here, any one of the nine counts of aggravated robbery, and the prosecution calls all the witnesses they called during the course of this trial, the prosecution would be darn hard pressed to prove that Angela Abeyta knew everything. Every single witness the prosecution could call would say they [10] were fearful. Defendant's counsel objected, and a short discussion occurred in chambers about whether the prosecutor deliberately misled the jury when he said that the prosecution would be hard pressed to obtain a conviction of Abeyta on the robbery charges. The trial judge overruled the objection and stated that what had been said thus far is fair argument. Defendant's trial counsel testified that he chose not to preserve this objection for appeal because he felt it did not constitute reversible error, and he wanted to present only meritorious arguments to the court of appeals. Defendant contends that he was prejudiced by the prosecutor's remarks because Ms. Abeyta's credibility was bolstered by the prosecutor's argument and the prosecutor argued matters not in evidence by stating that every witness the prosecution could call (emphasis added) would say that Abeyta was fearful. The scope of final argument rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and its rulings thereon will not be disturbed by an appellate court in the absence of a gross abuse of discretion resulting in prejudice and a denial of justice. People v. Pesis, 189 Colo. 52, 536 P.2d 824 (1975); People v. Motley, 179 Colo. 77, 498 P.2d 339 (1972). The trial court instructed the jury that closing argument is not evidence, and that they should rely on admitted evidence and the instructions, not on the closing arguments. Absent a contrary showing, it is presumed that the jury understood and heeded the trial court's instructions. People v. Gutierrez, 622 P.2d 547 (Colo.1981); People v. Moseley, Jr., 193 Colo. 256, 566 P.2d 331 (1977). We conclude that the prosecutor's remarks here were not so prejudicial as to constitute a denial of justice and to require a new trial. Abeyta testified about her plea bargain. A prosecutor may, without impropriety, argue all reasonable inferences from facts in evidence. See A.B.A. Standards Relating to the Prosecution Function § 8(a) (1980). Any improper bolstering of Abeyta's credibility was slight, and she was only one of several eyewitnesses to the robbery. Whether she was fearful of the defendant carries little if any importance in determining his guilt. The failure of defendant's trial attorney to preserve for appeal his objection to the prosecutor's remarks did not amount to ineffective representation. Finally, defendant argues that his trial lawyer's failure to move for dismissal based on defendant's IAD Article III notice and advisement rights shows ineffective assistance of counsel. IAD Article III(c), section 24-60-501, C.R.S.1973 (1982 Repl. Vol. 10), provides that The warden, a commissioner of corrections, or other official having custody of the prisoner shall promptly inform him of the source and contents of any detainer lodged against him and shall also inform him of his right to make a request for final disposition of the indictment, information, or complaint on which the detainer is based. There are at least two plausible interpretations of this provision. One construction is that the warden is required to give the prisoner notice of each detainer filed and advise the prisoner of his right to make a request for final disposition in each case. A second interpretation is that all that is required is for the warden to advise the prisoner only of the first detainer lodged by each state and the right to request a prompt disposition because the underlying purpose of the entire statutory scheme is the prompt disposition of untried charges filed in other jurisdictions. The second construction is supported by section III(d) which provides that once a request for final disposition is made with regard to a case pending in one state, all untried charges, on the basis of which detainers have been lodged from that state, must be tried within 180 days. If the prisoner is not tried on a charge prior to his return to the original place of confinement, that charge must be dismissed with prejudice. Since it is not clear which interpretation is correct, it cannot be said that the defendant's trial counsel was ineffective. [11] We save for another day the question of which construction to adopt in Colorado. Moreover, even assuming that the first interpretation is correct, IAD Article III(c) does not expressly provide a remedy for breach of its provisions. Articles III(d), IV(e), and V(c) expressly state that nonfulfillment of their provisions requires dismissal with prejudice of the underlying indictment, information, or complaint. In September of 1977, when defendant's trial occurred, the appropriate remedy for a breach of Article III(c) was uncertain. In April of 1977, the Supreme Court of Kansas held that nonfulfillment of Article III(c) notice and advisement rights does not require dismissal of the underlying charges. State v. Clark, 222 Kan. 65, 563 P.2d 1028 (1977). The Colorado Court of Appeals did not adopt a contrary rule until approximately two years after defendant's trial. People v. Lincoln, 42 Colo.App. 512, 601 P.2d 641 (1979); People v. Gonzales, 42 Colo.App. 517, 601 P.2d 644 (1979). We did not adopt the Lincoln approach until approximately four years after defendant's trial. Romans v. District Court, 633 P.2d 477 (Colo.1981). [12] Here, defendant was informed of his rights under the IAD in connection with an earlier detainer. [13] Under these special facts, and given the dearth of authority available to defendant's trial attorney on this issue, we find that his failure to raise defendant's IAD Article III(c) notice and advisement rights prior to or during trial does not fall beneath the level of reasonably competent assistance of an attorney acting as defendant's diligent conscientious advocate. Therefore, defendant's constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel was not violated. See Kowalak v. United States, 534 F.Supp. 186, 190 (E.D. Mich.1982), aff'd, 714 F.2d 143 (6th Cir. 1983) (unawareness of the IAD did not render counsel's assistance ineffective when, at the time the defendant's guilty plea waived his IAD rights, it was at least questionable whether the defendant was substantially prejudiced by his counsel's unawareness). Reversed and remanded with instructions to reinstate the judgment of conviction and the sentence imposed on December 2, 1977.