Pelch

Pelch v. Yarborough

Good Law
325 F. App'x 607
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMay 21, 2009No. 06-56050California299 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Brett Anthony Pelch appeals the denial of his habeas petition and dismissal with prejudice. We affirm.

The performance of Pelch’s trial counsel was not deficient. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). There was a low probability that a motion to suppress would succeed, because the state trial court was unlikely to find that the pretrial publicity created a “very substantial likelihood” of misidentifieation. Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198-99 , 93 S.Ct. 375 , 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). The evidence against Pelch was so overwhelming that Pelch was not prejudiced, even if there had been any inadequacy in trial counsel’s not moving to suppress the identifications. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691, 694 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . Trial counsel would not have rendered ineffective assistance even if there would have been “nothing to lose” from making such a motion. Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 1411, 1419-22 , 173 L.Ed.2d 251 (2009).

The performance of Pelch’s appellate counsel was neither deficient nor prejudicial under Strickland. See Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 285 , 120 S.Ct. 746 , 145 L.Ed.2d 756 (2000). It was…

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