Opinion ID: 1286415
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mental Health Evidence Likely Available

Text: First, we conclude that there is no reasonable probability that the information available to trial counsel through a reasonable initial investigation into Lance's mental health background would have led the trial court to grant funds for the type of in-depth and extensive mental health evaluation upon which Lance now largely relies. If trial counsel had properly interviewed lay witnesses, he would have discovered the following allegations about Lance's past: Lance had been in a number of automobile crashes, including some that might have resulted in brief unconsciousness and one that was caused by his fleeing from the police while drunk; Lance had once been exposed to toxic fumes while cleaning the inside of an oil tank; Lance had once ingested some gasoline as a child and had temporarily stopped breathing; Lance had a long history of abusing alcohol; and Lance had once suffered a shot to the head, which did not penetrate his skull, which led to his being hospitalized followed by his leaving the hospital against medical advice, and which resulted in recurring headaches. Trial counsel also could have obtained records from Georgia Regional Hospital, but those records would have informed trial counsel merely that Lance was having difficulty adjusting to his divorce, that he was depressed, that his depression was associated with his facing kidnapping and aggravated assault charges for an alleged attack on his ex-wife, and that he abused alcohol. We find it doubtful that this information would have led reasonable counsel to seek a psychological evaluation of Lance, particularly given the reasonableness of trial counsel's stated desire to prioritize his requests for funds for various experts. Nor would the trial court have abused its discretion, if it had been asked by trial counsel for funds for a psychological evaluation of Lance, by determining that this information failed to show that the assistance of a psychologist was critical to Lance's defense. See Roseboro v. State, 258 Ga. 39(3)(d), 365 S.E.2d 115 (1988). This is particularly true because Lance had already been examined in a psychological hospital and yet no obvious symptoms of impairment were noted other than Lance's alcohol abuse and his failure to adjust to his divorce. Finally, even if the trial court had exercised its discretion to order a psychological examination, we find that it would have been extremely appropriate and thus highly likely that the trial court would have first ordered a general psychological screening rather than the extensive neuropsychological examination that Lance has undergone during his habeas proceedings. The probable result of such a general psychological examination is suggested by the absence of any reference to neuropsychological difficulties in the records from Lance's psychological evaluation at Georgia Regional Hospital (as discussed above) and by the habeas testimony from the Warden's neuropsychologist, asserting that a typical court-ordered psychological examination might not have shown any cause for a more-detailed neuropsychological examination because of the relatively mild nature of Lance's mental neurological deficits. Accordingly, we conclude that it is unlikely that the trial court would have been informed through a general psychological examination of any possibly significant neurological deficits and, more importantly, that it is unlikely that the trial court would have exercised its discretion, in the face of such mild symptoms, to order a full neuropsychological examination. Given the multiple levels of unlikelihood at issue herethat reasonable counsel would seek an evaluation, that the trial court would grant the request, that the initial evaluation would give any suggestion of a need for a full neuropsychological examination, and that the trial court would have ordered a full neuropsychological examinationwe conclude that there is no reasonable probability that a reasonable investigation of Lance's background by counsel would have led to his having access to the type of specialized neuropsychological testimony that Lance has presented in the habeas court. We do note the significant likelihood that a general psychological examination would have included an assessment of Lance's intelligence. However, none of the experts has diagnosed Lance as falling within the generally-accepted definition of mental retardation. Upon our review of all of the evidence presented at trial and shown in the habeas court to have been available to trial counsel, we conclude that evidence of Lance's moderate slowness would not have had a significant effect on the jury's sentencing phase deliberations, particularly in light of the evidence showing that Lance functioned normally in society apart from his criminal behavior. We also conclude that this evidence of moderate slowness would have had essentially no effect on the jury's guilt/innocence phase deliberations. Compare OCGA § 17-7-131(a)(3) and (j) (allowing for guilty but mentally retarded verdicts in the guilt/innocence phase that exempt defendants from the death penalty).