Opinion ID: 579501
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: failure of the district court to hold an evidentiary hearing

Text: 13 Petitioner claims that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing before the district court. We disagree. An evidentiary hearing was not necessary to review the claim that petitioner's counsel was ineffective. The district court had the state trial record before it. A full evidentiary hearing need not be held if [appellant] received a full and fair hearing in state court ... and if the district court has independently reviewed the transcript of the state court proceedings. (Citations omitted). Mitchell v. Wyrick, 698 F.2d 940, 944 (8th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 462 U.S. 1135, 103 S.Ct. 3120, 77 L.Ed.2d 1373 (1983). Both of these conditions were met. We find that petitioner received a full and fair hearing in state court. Proof of his guilt on the offense for which he is presently incarcerated was overwhelming. The district court carefully examined the trial record. Thus, there was no necessity for an evidentiary hearing.