Happel v. State

2024 ND 50

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: March 18, 2024
• Docket: 20230338
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF SUPREME COURT MARCH 18, 2024 STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

2024 ND 50

Tyson L. Happel, Petitioner and Appellant v. State of North Dakota, Respondent and Appellee

No. 20230338

Appeal from the District Court of Burleigh County, South Central Judicial District, the Honorable David E. Reich, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Per Curiam.

Rina Morales-Holmes, Minot, ND, for petitioner and appellant; submitted on brief.

Justin J. Schwarz, Assistant State’s Attorney, Bismarck, ND, for respondent and appellee; submitted on brief. Happel v. State No. 20230338

[¶1] Tyson Happel appeals from an order denying his application for postconviction relief. Happel’s application alleges he received ineffective assistance of counsel and evidence not previously presented exists. Happel argues the district court erred in denying his application because he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his counsel did not request a psychological evaluation to determine Happel’s competency to assist in his defense before his change of plea. The court held an evidentiary hearing on September 26, 2023, and made findings of fact in reaching its conclusion.

[¶2] The district court held Happel did not satisfy the Strickland test and did not establish his attorney’s assistance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. The court also found Happel presented no argument at the postconviction relief hearing on newly discovered evidence. Findings of fact made in a postconviction relief proceeding are subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review. After a full review of the record, we conclude the court’s findings of facts are not clearly erroneous and the court did not err in determining Happel failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

[¶3] Jon J. Jensen, C.J. Daniel J. Crothers Lisa Fair McEvers Jerod E. Tufte Douglas A. Bahr