State ex rel. Brown v. Guillory

Supreme Court of Louisiana
State ex rel. Brown v. Guillory, 458 So. 2d 903 (La. 1984)
1984 La. LEXIS 10024
Calogero

State ex rel. Brown v. Guillory

Opinion of the Court

In Re: MELVIN L. BROWN, applying for Reconsideration on Denied Writ of October 5, 1984, 457 So.2d 1187, to the 29th Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Charles, Number 31,669

Dissenting Opinion

CALOGERO, Justice,

dissenting from denial.

Relator seems to have a legitimate complaint. Had his lawyer sought proper instruction and been turned down by the trial judge, there might have been reversible error under State v. Babin, 319 So.2d 367 (La. 1975), (on rehearing). However, at this junction, his only vehicle to upset the earlier verdict is to establish a constitutional violation of ineffective assistance of counsel. In that regard, he must show that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Strickland v. Washington, — U.S.-, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Despite this heavy burden on the defendant, he is entitled to a determination in that regard — a determination which should be made by the trial judge after an evidentiary hearing. Consequently, I would grant and order an evidentiary hearing.

Reference

Full Case Name
STATE ex rel. Melvin L. BROWN v. Warden, Donald R. GUILLORY
Status
Published