Opinion ID: 78474
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prior Records

Text: Rhode further faults counsel for failing to use Rhode's prior psychiatric hospitalization records or juvenile probation records and not contacting anyone from New Orleans Adolescent Hospital (NOAH), including psychiatric social worker Frances Wellington, who had treated Rhode and could have offered mitigation testimony. Rhode argues that counsel's failure to use that evidence prejudiced the defense because the evidence would have rebutted Patches Rhode's intimation that her son had wilfully rejected treatment. [14] The record supports the state habeas court's finding that counsel had copies of the NOAH records and juvenile probation records before trial and gave them to Dr. Grant for his review. The record also shows, for example, that counsel obtained and reviewed a June 1993 psychological assessment by Dr. Jorge H. Durana, a NOAH clinical psychologist. Dr. Durana evaluated Rhode after Rhode was arrested as a juvenile on five felony charges and two counts of misdemeanor trespassing. Dr. Durana found that Rhode had a significant history of antisocial behavior and a disregard for rules and the well being of others. Ex. 62 at 3947. Rhode's NOAH records, in fact, indicate that he was disciplined during his treatment for breaking major rules. They show that he was frequently uncooperative, undermining, and generally in denial. Ex. 62 at 3943, 3951. Counsel's decision not to introduce Rhode's NOAH and juvenile probation records at trial was strategically reasonable because the jury could have seen them as aggravating and inconsistent with counsel's argument that Rhode could adapt to prison. Counsel did not perform deficiently by failing to present Wellington's testimony because the emergence of an additional expert witness at a state collateral proceeding does not mean that trial counsel was ineffective. Hendrix, 527 F.3d at 1154.