Court Opinion

ID: 9742102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:06:48.147502+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:28.545759
License: Public Domain

SCHLEGEL, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent.
I believe the failure of defense counsel to bring out the sheriffs admission that he falsifies evidence because “he forgets in court all the time,” and the county attorney’s letter critical of Shields’ deposition testimony with a copy to her employer was ineffective assistance of trial counsel and was prejudicial. Furthermore, such conduct by both the sheriff and the county attorney should be sternly condemned. Since the jury was not told of this pressure upon Shields, it was deprived of evidence bearing upon the intoxication defense being asserted.
I believe there was a failure of defense counsel to provide effective assistance in this respect which resulted in prejudice to the defendant. I would reverse for a new trial. I would hope that doing so would send the message that questionable conduct by law enforcement officials and prosecutors, which constitutes a violation of the law, will be *725subjected to strict scrutiny in cases of improper acts in the suppression of truth.