Opinion ID: 755880
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ineffective Assistance on Appeal

Text: 37 The district court did not review the merits of Ortiz's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal because the state court found that the claim was procedurally barred by Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(a)(3). Ortiz argues that because the same attorney represented him on appeal and during his first state post-conviction proceeding, his procedural default with respect to the ineffective assistance on appeal claim should be excused for cause. See Bonin, 77 F.3d at 1158 (procedural bar is lifted if petitioner can show cause and actual prejudice). Ortiz insists that his attorney was prevented from raising his own ineffectiveness due to a clear conflict of interest. This precise argument has been repeatedly rejected by this circuit. See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir.1996); Bonin, 77 F.3d at 1159.III. Evidentiary Hearing on Ineffective Assistance 38 Next, Ortiz argues that the district court abused its discretion in not granting an evidentiary hearing on his ineffective assistance of counsel claims. The district court must grant a petitioner's motion to hold an evidentiary hearing [u]nless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief. 28 U.S.C. § 2255. To earn the right to a hearing, therefore, Appellant [is] required to allege specific facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief. United States v. McMullen, 98 F.3d 1155, 1159 (9th Cir.1996), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 2444, 138 L.Ed.2d 203 (1997). We must accord the district court below wide latitude on its decision to deny an evidentiary hearing on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. See id. (Under the abuse of discretion standard, an appellate court may not simply substitute its judgment for that of the lower court.). In the instant case, we agree with the district court that Ortiz has failed to allege facts that, if true, would entitle him to relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claims.