Lichau v. Baldwin

The issue in this post-conviction relief proceeding is whether petitioner received inadequate assistance of counsel at his criminal trial. The post-conviction court rejected all but one of petitioner’s claims. Respecting that claim, which involved trial counsel’s withdrawal of petitioner’s alibi defense, the trial court concluded that counsel had performed inadequately and granted petitioner a new trial. The Court of Appeals reversed, concluding that counsel’s assistance had been adequate under the circumstances. Lichau v. Baldwin, 166 Or App 411, 999 P2d 1207 (2000). For the reasons that…