Court Opinion

ID: 9631211
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:31:53.299333+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:28:46.713087
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Justice,
concurring specially.
I agree that the summary judgment entered by the trial court should be affirmed. However, I would premise the decision on the fact that Parrott presented the question of ineffective assistance of counsel to the trial court on his motion for new trial, then appealed the trial court’s denial of a new trial and subsequently withdrew the appeal. In my view, Parrott’s attempt to raise the issue of ineffective assistance by way of post-conviction relief is barred by the doctrine of claim preclusion or res judicata.
In ruling on the motion for new trial, the trial court said:
The second point is the inadequacy of counsel. The court is going to make a finding that is two-fold.
Again, if in fact there is inadequacy of counsel representation, a new trial would have to be granted, because it would violate Mr. Parrott’s constitutional rights, but in this case Mr. Parrott very accurately stated that the standard for granting a new trial, where there is an alleged inadequate representation of counsel, that the adequate representation would have uncovered substantial evidence that was not brought out, that would have changed the result, or substantial evidence that could have changed the result. I would agree with Mr. Parrott that he wouldn’t have to show that he would be acquitted.
In this case the court permitted Mr. Parrott to call several witnesses who, in the court’s opinion, have shown that there has been substantial evidence that was not produced, therefore the fact that Mr. Parrott was denied a continuance is not a ground for granting a new trial. Because if, in fact, Mr. Parrott had been granted a continuance, there is no indica*277tion that further investigation by defense counsel would have uncovered substantial — uncovered evidence that would have had any kind of likelihood of changing the result.
The court is going to make a ruling the representation by Mr. Wilson at the trial was not inadequate. It was, of course, his first jury trial, however the court feels that a competent job was done over all.
After a case is completed there are ways of second-guessing, that he could have cross examined more, could have raised the issue of drugs, however it was a competent trial. Therefore Mr. Wilson did competently represent the defendant at trial.
The lack of pre-trial investigation, that was denied by the court, as opposed to any willful desire on Mr. Wilson’s part, would not have resulted in any other evidence being produced. Therefore, the court will rule that in this case there is not grounds for new trial on inadequacy of counsel, either for Mr. Wilson having his hands tied for lack of pre-trial preparation, or for inadequately trying the case. (Emphasis added.)
Having had his day in the trial court on this issue, ■ Parrott then appealed to this Court. Later, he withdrew the appeal. It is clear that if Parrott had continued with his appeal, and if this Court had affirmed the denial of a new trial, the decision of this Court would have precluded him from again raising the issue by way of a post-conviction application. Kraft v. State, 100 Idaho 671, 674, 603 P.2d 1005, 1008 (1979). Parrott’s failure to complete his original appeal of this issue does not give him any greater status to raise the issue in this proceeding. The decision denying a new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel became final when Parrott withdrew his appeal.