Opinion ID: 1768076
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: April Lunsford

Text: April Lunsford testified for the defense and provided an alibi for Bowling for the time when the Hensley Spur Station crimes were committed. On cross-examination, the Commonwealth questioned her about a recent arrest, which was for operating a motor vehicle without a license. She was with Bowling's brother, John Bowling, when she was arrested. Additionally, the Commonwealth questioned her about a note found in her purse when she was arrested. The note read: You are being watched by a .38 special, thank you, John Bowling. Bowling argues that defense counsel should have learned the nature of Lunsford's arrest. Further, he argues that defense counsel should have moved for a continuance to question Lunsford in private about the meaning of the note signed by John Bowling. Unlike the argument concerning Edward Herren, Bowling's argument is not that counsel failed to confer with Lunsford before she testified. Rather, Bowling argues that defense counsel failed to elicit all pertinent information, including any possible impeachment evidence, while conferring with her. Bowling would set the bar for effective assistance of counsel too high. He would have us move toward requiring near perfect performance by defense counsel, viewed with the benefit of hindsight. This is contrary to the Strickland standard, which requires not optimal performance but, rather, reasonably effective assistance. See, e.g., Fields v. Bagley, 275 F.3d 478, 484 (6th Cir.2001). While perhaps not perfect, defense counsel's preparation and questioning of Lunsford was reasonably effective under Strickland . Therefore, we affirm the trial court's ruling that there was no ineffective assistance of counsel concerning Lunsford.