Opinion ID: 1611770
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to Contemporaneously Object to Prosecutor's Opening Statement

Text: Cole's fourth subclaim asserts trial counsel's failure to contemporaneously object to the prosecutor's opening statement during the guilt phase. [5] Trial counsel did not immediately object. Instead, at the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement, counsel moved for a mistrial, citing the prosecutor's mankind at its worst statement made during the opening statement. The trial court denied the motion but offered a curative instruction, which trial counsel declined. Cole argues that counsel's failure to immediately object to the mankind at its worst comment and counsel's failure to accept the curative instruction constituted ineffective assistance. Cole's claim must rely on counsel's decision not to contemporaneously object and not on a failure to object because counsel moved for a mistrial at the conclusion of the prosecutor's statement. Thus, Cole must demonstrate that his counsel performed deficiently and that he was prejudiced by counsel's decision to wait until the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement before moving for a mistrial on the basis of the prosecutor's argument. Likewise, Cole must demonstrate that counsel performed deficiently and that he was prejudiced by counsel's decision to decline the curative instruction. Trial counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing that he decided to wait until after the opening statement so that the comment would not be emphasized and also testified that the curative instruction in this case would have had the effect of repeating the offensive comment. We find that competent, substantial evidence supports the trial court's conclusions that trial counsel's decision to wait until the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement before moving for mistrial was tactical as well as counsel's decision to decline the curative instruction. We find no error in the trial court's ruling that Cole was not entitled to Strickland relief because Cole failed to demonstrate that his counsel performed deficiently. We also conclude that Cole has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced.