Opinion ID: 2644277
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Inquiry.

Text: ¶24 MacGregor complains that his attorney failed to form a strategy or contact him while he was at the Montana State Hospital. At the time the trial court ordered the competency evaluation, MacGregor already had requested to represent himself. The court deferred 7 decision on MacGregor’s request until the evaluation was completed. MacGregor later complained that “representation was forced upon him during the state’s mental evaluation,” while simultaneously criticizing Scott for failing to contact MacGregor while he was hospitalized. Given the District Court’s familiarity with MacGregor’s requests and its decision to postpone ruling on MacGregor’s motion to represent himself, it did not err in failing to conduct additional inquiry into his complaint. ¶25 MacGregor also alleged before and during trial that his attorneys had colluded with the prosecution to his detriment. The record is unclear whether he was referring to conduct occurring before or after his appointed counsel was designated as standby counsel. When a defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel during trial, we review whether the district court made an inquiry into those complaints to determine whether they are substantial. State v. Gallagher, 1998 MT 70, ¶ 15, 288 Mont. 180, 955 P.2d 1371; State v. Hammer, 2013 MT 203, ¶ 14, 371 Mont. 121, 305 P.3d 843. In reviewing a district court’s inquiry, we do not examine whether counsel was ineffective, but instead, whether the district court’s inquiry into the claim was adequate. Hammer, ¶ 14; State v. Dethman, 2010 MT 268, ¶ 16, 358 Mont. 384, 245 P.3d 30; State v. Weaver, 276 Mont. 505, 511, 917 P.2d 437, 441 (1996). ¶26 A district court’s inquiry is adequate when it considers the defendant’s factual complaints together with counsel’s explanations addressing the complaints. Gallagher, ¶ 15; Dethman, ¶ 16. If the district court’s adequate inquiry finds that the defendant’s complaints are insubstantial, it is not required to hold a hearing on the issue. Hammer, ¶ 14. A 8 complaint is substantial when it makes some showing of fact indicating that counsel’s performance was deficient, and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. Bomar v. State, 2012 MT 163, ¶ 7, 365 Mont. 474, 285 P.3d 396; State v. Miner, 2012 MT 20, ¶ 11, 364 Mont. 1, 271 P.3d 56. Those facts must make a showing of deficiency to overcome the presumption that a defendant was provided with effective assistance of counsel. State v. Morsette, 2013 MT 270, ¶¶ 19-21, 372 Mont. 38, ___P.3d___. ¶27 Here, MacGregor’s primary claim was that his counsel colluded with the prosecution by sharing details about the defense and otherwise talking with each other. The District Court noted that the defense discusses details of the case with prosecutors “in every single criminal case, and there is nothing shown that would create a breach of confidentiality.” The court held that discussions between the defense and prosecutors were not sufficient to overcome the presumption that counsel was effective, and did not reveal any indication of prejudice towards the case. MacGregor points to no other facts indicating that his lawyer’s conduct was unprofessional or incorrect. Accordingly, the District Court made an adequate inquiry to establish that MacGregor’s claims had no merit.