Opinion ID: 1349059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Preservation of Error/Scope and Standard of Review

Text: In order for this court to review alleged deficiencies in the trial proceedings, these errors must be preserved for review. State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192, 195 (Iowa 1998). The only issue preserved for error is the sufficiency of the evidence to support a jury verdict. This question was preserved by Button's timely motion for judgment of acquittal. State v. Walker, 574 N.W.2d 280, 283 (Iowa 1998). The purposeful contact and constitutional violation arguments were not made to the trial court. However, this is not fatal when failure to preserve error on these issues is the fault of trial counsel. See State v. Gant, 597 N.W.2d 501, 504 (Iowa 1999). Ineffective assistance claims operate as an exception to our error preservation requirements. State v. Rubino, 602 N.W.2d 558, 563 (Iowa 1999). Therefore, we will review the three issues.
We review a jury verdict for substantial evidence. In deciding whether the evidence is substantial, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and make all reasonable inferences that may fairly be drawn from the evidence. State v. McPhillips, 580 N.W.2d 748, 753 (Iowa 1998); accord State v. Arne, 579 N.W.2d 326, 328 (Iowa 1998) (Our review of the evidence is made in a light most favorable to the jury's verdict.). As such, a challenge of the sufficiency of the evidence is for correction of errors at law. McPhillips, 580 N.W.2d at 753. Inherent in our standard of review of jury verdicts in criminal cases is the recognition that the jury was free to reject certain evidence, and credit other evidence. State v. Anderson, 517 N.W.2d 208, 211 (Iowa 1994). Consequently, where the record contains substantial evidence, we are bound by the jury's finding of guilt. State v. Romeo, 542 N.W.2d 543, 545 (Iowa 1996).
The question of counsel's performance is a constitutional claim which this court reviews de novo. State v. Carter, 602 N.W.2d 818, 820 (Iowa 1999). The defendant must prove that counsel failed to perform an essential duty and that prejudice was the result. Id. Unless the defendant can show both by a preponderance of the evidence, we will affirm. State v. Greene, 592 N.W.2d 24, 29 (Iowa 1999). To the extent counsel's performance hinges on the interpretation of a statute, our review is for correction of errors at law. State v. Vargason, 607 N.W.2d 691, 695 (Iowa 2000).