Opinion ID: 2632308
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Alleged ineffective assistance of advisory counsel

Text: Before looking to the specific instances of ineffective assistance claimed by defendant, we address the Attorney General's preemptive contention that there is no right to advisory counsel ( People v. Clark (1992) 3 Cal.4th 41, 111, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 554, 833 P.2d 561; People v. Bloom (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1194, 1218, 259 Cal.Rptr. 669, 774 P.2d 698; see McKaskle v. Wiggins (1984) 465 U.S. 168, 183, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122), and therefore defendant cannot complain if advisory counsel's performance falls below professional standards. Respondent cites three federal cases that have rejected a contention of ineffective assistance of standby counsel, the federal equivalent of advisory counsel: United States v. Schmidt (2d Cir.1997) 105 F.3d 82, 90; United States v. Cochrane (9th Cir.1993) 985 F.2d 1027, 1029; and United States v. Windsor (7th Cir.1992) 981 F.2d 943, 946-947. Each of these decisions, however, left open the possibility that on different facts the federal court might allow a pro se defendant to challenge the performance of standby counsel. California decisions, however, provide a narrow and limited range within which a defendant can raise the issue of ineffectiveness of advisory counsel. In People v. Hamilton (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1142, at footnote 14 on pages 1164-1165, 259 Cal.Rptr. 701, 774 P.2d 730, we said that [o]n posttrial review, ... a self-represented defendant may only raise those narrow claims of `ineffective assistance' which arise directly from assisting counsel's breach of the limited authority and responsibilities counsel has assumed. In People v. Bloom, supra, 48 Cal.3d at pages 1226-1227, 259 Cal.Rptr. 669, 774 P.2d 698, we explained that: To prevail on a claim that counsel acting in an advisory or other limited capacity has rendered ineffective assistance, a self-represented defendant must show that counsel failed to perform competently within the limited scope of the duties assigned to or assumed by counsel [citations] and that a more favorable verdict was reasonably probable in the absence of counsel's failings [citations]. A self-represented defendant may not claim ineffective assistance on account of counsel's omission to perform an act within the scope of duties the defendant voluntarily undertook to perform personally at trial. Our recent decision in People v. Lawley (2002) 27 Cal.4th 102, 145, 115 Cal.Rptr.2d 614, 38 P.3d 461 confirmed that when advisory counsel is appointed the defendant is entitled to expect professionally competent assistance within the narrow scope of advisory counsel's proper role. We find no reason to reconsider that analysis. The record here, however, is insufficient to establish ineffective assistance of advisory counsel. We have repeatedly emphasized that a claim of ineffective assistance is more appropriately decided in a habeas corpus proceeding. ( People v. Mendoza Tello (1997) 15 Cal.4th 264, 266-267, 62 Cal.Rptr.2d 437, 933 P.2d 1134; People v. Wilson (1992) 3 Cal.4th 926, 936, 13 Cal.Rptr.2d 259, 838 P.2d 1212; People v. Pope (1979) 23 Cal.3d 412, 426, 152 Cal.Rptr. 732, 590 P.2d 859.) The defendant must show that counsel's action or inaction was not a reasonable tactical choice, and in most cases `the record on appeal sheds no light on why counsel acted or failed to act in the manner challenged ( People v. Mendoza Tello, supra, at p. 266, 62 Cal.Rptr.2d 437, 933 P.2d 1134; People v. Wilson, supra, at p. 936, 13 Cal.Rptr.2d 259, 838 P.2d 1212; People v. Pope, supra, at p. 426, 152 Cal. Rptr. 732, 590 P.2d 859.) Moreover, when, as here, a defendant has chosen self-representation, the defendant has the power to make the tactical decisions. Thus when a defendant raises an issue of effective assistance of advisory counsel, defendant must also show that counsel's challenged action or inaction was not the result of the defendant's own decision, with advisory counsel merely carrying out defendant's directions. Finally, in ruling on the merits of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the appellate court may need to assess the cumulative effect of several claimed deficiencies, which is difficult if discussion is fragmented between the appeal and the habeas corpus petition. [6] Defendant argues that his advisory counsel was incompetent on five grounds:
(2) Chambers's cross-examination of Mark Herbert and Velinda Davis elicited negative testimony that defendant had sold methamphetamine to Herbert and that Davis did not believe that defendant's girlfriend, Christina, had so much influence over defendant that he would kill for her. (3) Chambers failed to object to instances of prosecutorial misconduct. Defendant points in particular to the prosecutor's cross-examination of Christina about the incident where she and defendant had been arrested for illegal possession of knives, and evidence that defendant had beaten Christina and once had left her bound for several hours. Some of the evidence about defendant's beating Christina was ultimately excluded by the trial court on its own motion, and the jury was directed to disregard it. (4) Chambers's cross-examination of witnesses, and his closing argument, fell below professional standards. Defendant objects in particular to Chambers's concession in closing argument that defendant was guilty of first degree murder, even though Chambers went on to argue against special circumstance findings. (5) Counsel failed to object on the right grounds when, after a prosecution witness, criminologist William Chisum, testified that he did not know how many knives were used in the murder, the prosecutor asked him if he had talked to defendant about where the knives might be. Chambers did object to the question as argumentative, and the objection was sustained. Defendant's claim on appeal is that Chambers should also have objected that the question sought an unconstitutional comment on defendant's decision not to testify, a form of objection that might preserve a federal constitutional issue that could be raised in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. The appellate record does not disclose advisory counsel Chambers's reasons for any of these alleged derelictions, nor whether he was acting under defendant's direction. The latter point is particularly relevant to Chambers's concession in closing argument of defendant's guilt of first degree murder, because in a discussion outside the jury's presence defendant had personally told the trial court he admitted guilt of first degree murder and asked the court to limit the trial to the issue of special circumstances. Because the record on appeal does not show Chambers's reasons for any of the challenged actions, nor whether he was acting under defendant's direction, we conclude that all the competency of counsel issues should be raised by petition for habeas corpus, instead of on appeal.