Timothy Duane Smith v. State of Iowa

Summary

The court vacated the court of appeals decision and affirmed the denial of postconviction relief on three ineffective-assistance claims. It held that Smith failed to show constitutional prejudice from counsel's failure to seek additional peremptory strikes, failed to prove a breach of duty concerning alleged juror misconduct, and failed to overcome the presumption that counsel's decision not to call certain witnesses was reasonable trial strategy. The court also rejected cumulative-prejudice analysis because it found no breaches of duty on the claims it evaluated.