Opinion ID: 1705084
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Present a Mental Health Expert

Text: Hartley also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to have Hartley examined by a mental health expert and present the expert as a witness. In denying the claim, the trial court noted that the issue was set for evidentiary hearing, but no evidence was presented on it. The court is correct. The witnesses who testified at the hearing, including Hartley, his mother, his brother, and his sister, provided no evidence that Hartley had suffered any mental health or related problems, such as brain damage, low IQ, slow learning development, or abuse (sexual, physical, or neglect), or experienced problems with drugs, alcohol, or school work. Moreover, the transcript from the murder trial clearly indicates that trial counsel and Hartley discussed over a period of months whether to have Hartley examined by a mental health expert and decided not to do so. In light of Hartley's failure to present any evidence on the claim, we affirm the circuit court's conclusion that Hartley has failed to demonstrate either error or prejudice. In light of the foregoing, we affirm the trial court's order denying Hartley's claims of ineffective assistance for failure to call certain penalty phase witnesses or to present the testimony of a mental health expert.