Opinion ID: 496859
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: failure to adequately prepare case

Text: 53 Taylor's second ground for arguing that he was denied effective assistance of counsel is that his attorney was unprepared for trial. The only evidence advanced by Taylor, however, is his request on the first day of trial to personally ... speak to the Court to explain that his attorney has not put in the time to prepare his case. Brief of Appellant at 8. 54 At the beginning of trial, Taylor sought and received an opportunity to speak with the court to request a continuance. From our reading of the record, however, it seems that Taylor was not motivated by a concern about his lawyer's performance. When Taylor's counsel informed the court that Taylor wished to make a very brief statement to the court, II R. 67, the following dialogue ensued: 55 THE COURT: Well, I don't know what the statement is about, if you represent the man and he's not dissatisfied with you as a lawyer, is he? 56 [TAYLOR'S COUNSEL] No. He wants me to ask Your Honor for a continuance and ... he insists on making a statement, and if Your Honor deems it appropriate. 57 II. R. 68. During his remarks to the court, Taylor never suggested any dissatisfaction with his counsel. Rather, Taylor's request for a continuance appears to have been prompted by the trial court's ruling that a previous conviction of Taylor's--a 1977 second degree felony theft charge reduced to a Class A misdemeanor--would be admissible for impeachment purposes if Taylor testified: 58 DEFENDANT: The thing I was looking at, it was--we prepared our case in regard to me being on the stand, and now [Taylor's counsel] suggests that I don't go on the stand at all, and if we don't present some of the things that are necessary to show the people and jury that what really is the facts, and that's the reason I didn't feel we were prepared. 59 THE COURT: That's a decision you and your lawyer have to make. You have the absolute right to go on the stand; and no one is telling you not to. 60