Opinion ID: 1823280
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Ineffective assistance of counsel/ defendant's assignment of error number 35(A)

Text: In this assignment of error, defendant contends that his trial counsel committed reversible error by not encouraging him to accept the prosecutor's offer to plead guilty to first degree murder and receive a life sentence. Defendant argues that trial counsel should have realized this was the best offer he was likely to receive, and she provided ineffective assistance by advising him that a better offer was likely forthcoming. Ineffective assistance of counsel claims are usually addressed in post-conviction proceedings, rather than on direct appeal. State v. Brumfield, 96-2667 (La.10/20/98), 737 So.2d 660; State v. Hart, 96-0697 (La.3/7/97), 691 So.2d 651. We have, however, addressed the issue on direct review if the evidence needed to decide the issue may be found in the record. State v. Mitchell, 94-2078 (La.5/21/96), 674 So.2d 250; State v. Cousan, 94-2503 (La.11/25/96), 684 So.2d 382. The record in this case does not contain the evidence necessary for us to consider this issue. Thus, this assignment of error is relegated to post-conviction proceedings.