State v. Tierney, Unpublished Decision (12-4-2002)
State v. Tierney, Unpublished Decision (12-4-2002)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Initially, we find that the doctrine of res judicata prevents this court from reopening Tierney's appeal. Res judicata may be applied to bar the further litigation of issues that were previously raised or could have been raised through a direct appeal. See, generally, State v. Perry (1967),
{¶ 3} Herein, Tierney possessed a prior opportunity to raise the claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel through an appeal to the Supreme Court of Ohio. In fact, Tierney did file an appeal, pro se, with the Supreme Court of Ohio on June 20, 2002. Since the Supreme Court of Ohio dismissed Tierney's appeal on September 25, 2002, on the basis that his appeal did not involve any substantial constitutional question, res judicata now bars any further review of the claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. See State v. Tierney,
{¶ 4} Notwithstanding the application of the doctrine of res judicata, a substantive review of Tierney's supporting brief fails to support the claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. The two-pronged analysis found in Strickland v. Washington (1984),
{¶ 5} Tierney, through his application for reopening, attempts to raise twelve proposed assignments of error in support of his claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. These assignments of error involve the following issues: 1) right to impartial judge; 2) denial of discovery; 3) erroneous jury instructions; 4) violation of right to fair trial; 5) defective indictment; 6) peremptory challenges; 7) contamination of jury; 8) right to presence at all stages of trial; 9) sufficiency fo evidence; 10) perjured testimony; 11) confrontation clause violation; and 12) anonymous juror system. Upon direct appeal to this court, Tierney previously raised the issue of sufficiency of the evidence through assignment of error three. This court found that sufficient evidence was introduced at trial to support Tierney's conviction for the offenses of theft, safecracking, and breaking and entering. Res judicata bars any further review of the issue of sufficiency of the evidence.State v. Murnahan, supra. In addition, we have reviewed Tierney's remaining claims of deficient performance by appellate counsel and find that Tierney has failed to raise a genuine issue as to whether he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel on appeal as required by App.R. 26((B)(5). It must also be noted that appellate counsel is not required to raise every possible issue in order to provide constitutionally effective assistance of counsel. See Jones v. Banes
(1983),
{¶ 6} Finally, we note that Tierney has not supported his application for reopening with an affidavit averring the grounds for reopening as required by App.R. 26(B)(2)(d).
{¶ 7} "* * * App.R.26(B)(2)(d) requires a `sworn statement of the basis for the claim that appellate counsel's representation was deficient * * * and the manner in which the deficiency prejudicially affected the outcome of the appeal * * *.' The failure to provide the required sworn statement is also sufficient basis to deny the application. In State v.Lechner (1995),
{¶ 8} The failure of Tierney to provide this court with a sworn affidavit also requires denial of his application for reopening.
{¶ 9} Accordingly, Tierney's application for reopening is denied.
MICHAEL J. CORRIGAN, P.J. and FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J. CONCUR.
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