United States v. Tanesha Bannister

467 F. App'x 175

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: February 23, 2012
• Docket: 11-6658
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Tanesha Bannister appeals the district court’s order denying relief on her 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp.2011) motion, in which she asserted that counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to: (1) communicate a plea offer; (2) explain fully how relevant conduct and acceptance of responsibility would affect her case; and (3) explain fully the application of the 21 U.S.C. § 851 (2006) enhancement and how it would affect Bannister’s statutory mandatory minimum sentence. We previously granted Bannister a certificate of appealability on these issues. For the reasons that follow, we vacate and remand for further proceedings.

Generally, an evidentiary hearing is required under § 2255 unless it is clear from the pleadings, files, and records that a movant is not entitled to relief. United States v. Witherspoon, 231 F.3d 923, 925-27 (4th Cir.2000); Raines v. United States, 423 F.2d 526, 529-30 (4th Cir.1970). Whether an evidentiary hearing is necessary is best left to the sound discretion of the district court. Raines, 423 F.2d at 530. However, when a movant presents a color-able Sixth Amendment claim showing disputed facts involving inconsistencies beyond the record, a hearing is mandated. See United States v. Magini, 973 F.2d 261, 264 (4th Cir.1992); see also Raines, 423 F.2d at 530 (“There will remain ... a category of petitions, usually involving credibility, that will require an evidentiary hearing in open court.”).

Because whether counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness turns on credibility determinations, and since it is not apparent, given the current state of the record, that Bannister suffered no prejudice if counsel’s performance was deficient, we vacate the district court’s order and remand for further proceedings. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

VACATED AND REMANDED.