Opinion ID: 20143
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: systematic underrepresentation of hispanics and youth

Text: 97 Soria next argues that the method of selecting the jury panel (voter registration lists) in Tarrant County at the time of his trial systematically underrepresented Hispanics and young persons in violation of the Sixth Amendment. In the court below, in response to this argument, the respondent asserted that the claim was procedurally barred. The district court did not address the procedural bar; instead, it rejected the claim on the merits. The district court erred in so doing. 98 During Soria's state habeas proceedings, the trial court, citing Ex parte Gardner, 959 S.W.2d 189 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998), 23 found that Soria had forfeited his fair cross section complaint when he failed to raise it on direct appeal. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the trial court's findings on this claim. Although the state court addressed the merits of the claim in the alternative, it expressly applied a procedural bar to review of the claim. 24 We therefore are precluded from reviewing the merits of the claim unless Soria establishes cause for the default and actual prejudice resulting from the constitutional violation. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. at 750, 111 S.Ct. at 2565. Because Soria attempts to demonstrate neither cause nor prejudice, this claim is procedurally barred. 99 In an abundance of caution, we briefly address the merits of this argument in the alternative. This Court has held that [t]he fact that an identifiable minority group votes in a proportion lower than the rest of the population and is therefore underrepresented on jury panels presents no constitutional issue. United States v. Brummitt, 665 F.2d 521, 527 (5th Cir. 1981) (citing United States v. Arlt, 567 F.2d 1295, 1297 (5th Cir. 1978)). Our case law clearly precludes Soria from making a substantial showing regarding the denial of a federal right with respect to this issue. J. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL 100 Soria contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to adequately develop and present important evidence in mitigation of the death penalty. To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a petitioner must demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). To establish prejudice, the petitioner must show that it is reasonably likely that the jury would have reached a different decision absent counsel's unprofessional errors. Faulder v. Johnson, 81 F.3d 515, 519 (5th Cir. 1996). 101 Soria relies on several cases from variouscourts, 25 including the Fifth Circuit, in which attorneys were found to have rendered ineffective assistance by failing to present mitigating evidence during the punishment phase. Unlike Soria's counsel, however, the attorneys in those cases presented either very little or no evidence in mitigation of the death penalty. 102 Soria concedes that his counsel presented mitigating evidence at the punishment phase. In fact, the record reflects that Dr. James Grigson, a psychiatrist, testified that he examined Soria and, in his opinion, Soria would not be a continuing threat to society. Dr. Grigson also testified that Soria was remorseful about the killing, that Soria experienced nightmares after the killing, and that Soria could not have killed the victim on his own--Soria's confession indicated that he committed the crime at the direction of Mike Lagunas. 103 Soria's mother and brother testified regarding the locations where the family had lived, the family's migrant farm work, Soria's erratic job history, the family's membership in the Jehovah's Witness Church, Soria's dropping out of school after ninth grade, and the bad influence of Soria's new friends, especially codefendant Lagunas. 104 Notwithstanding that evidence, Soria argues that because of counsel's failure to thoroughly investigate, a significant amount of mitigating evidence regarding the hardships of his life was not presented to the jury, including: his father's abuse of alcohol and its relation to the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of his father; his poor performance in school; the isolation he experienced due to the limitations placed on his activities by his father and his religion; the depression he experienced because of the sudden death of his best friend ten months prior to the instant offense; his expulsion from the family home just prior to the murder. 105 Contrary to Soria's assertion, there was some evidence presented by the defense at the punishment phase regarding Soria's poor performance in school (Soria's grades declined; he dropped out of high school) and his expulsion from the family home (Soria was kicked out of his home the Friday that the offense actually occurred). 106 In any event, it is clear from a review of the record that defense counsel was attempting to portray Soria as a young man who had not been in any serious trouble until he fell under the influence of codefendant Lagunas. During closing argument at the punishment phase, counsel pointed to the portion of Soria's confession to the police in which Soria stated that the first time they attempted to rob the victim, he became scared and left because he could not do it. Counsel further argued to the jury that it wasn't until . . . they reported [back] to Mike [Lagunas] . . . and he said, `Let's do it.' It was Mike who was the leader. It was Mike under whom this young man was led. 107 Moreover, based on defense counsel's affidavit, the state court found that despite the fact that defense counsel encouraged Soria to be candid and forthcoming about his past and family background, the allegations of physical abuse and the father's alcoholism were never revealed to counsel or to the psychiatrist who examined Soria. The state court expressly found Soria's claim that he was beaten by his father not credible. The state court found that Soria's defense at trial was that he came from a good home, and the instant crime was an aberration. The state court further found that the evidence Soria now contends should have been presented in mitigation to the jury amounts to a defense that [Soria's] father turned [him] into a monster. Soria has not rebutted these state court findings with clear and convincing evidence. 108 Soria has failed to show that counsel's investigation was constitutionally inadequate. Counsel talked to the family members and encouraged Soria and his family to be candid regarding his past behavior and family background. Even had the state court not found the physical abuse allegations incredible, counsel should not be faulted for Soria's decision to conceal any such evidence. Cf. Moore v. Johnson, 194 F.3d 586, 607 (5th Cir. 1999) (explaining that petitioner's ability to meet his burden of demonstrating inadequate investigation by counsel was substantially undermined when petitioner chose to present an alibi defense). Accordingly, we conclude that counsel's investigation and the strategic decisions based thereupon were reasonable. 109 Moreover, even assuming arguendo that Soria could show that counsel's performance was deficient, he cannot show prejudice. As set forth above, the state court discredited the abuse allegations, and the jury was presented evidence of both Soria's poor school performance and his expulsion from the family home. Soria has not persuaded us that, but for counsel's failure to present evidence of the sudden death of his best friend and his resulting depression and isolation, there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different. See, e.g., Faulder v. Johnson, 81 F.3d 515, 519-20 (5th Cir. 1996) (holding no prejudice shown when counsel failed to introduce evidence of, among other things, brain damage from injury and organic brain disorder which impaired his judgment and impulse control). Soria has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a federal right with respect to this claim. K. CONCLUSION 110 In sum, Soria has not shown that any of his claims are debatable among jurists of reason, that a court could resolve the issues in a different manner, or that the questions are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further. Drinkard v. Johnson, 97 F.3d 751, 755-56 (5th Cir. 1996). Because Soria has failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, we DENY his request for a COA. 111 DENIED.