Opinion ID: 2686798
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mendoza’s Claim – AEDPA Deference

Text: 49 Case: 13-14968 Date Filed: 07/31/2014 Page: 50 of 58 As a threshold matter, we reject Mendoza’s contention that the district court erred by applying AEDPA deference to the Florida Supreme Court’s 3.850 decision. Mendoza points to the Florida Supreme Court’s statement that he took “issue with the manner in which trial counsel presented the evidence at trial,” see Mendoza IV, 87 So. 3d at 659, and argues that this statement revealed that the state supreme court misunderstood his claim. He then maintains that, in light of this error, the Florida Supreme Court’s opinion is not entitled to AEDPA deference and that his claim should be reviewed de novo. Mendoza’s argument ignores that he acknowledged in his § 2254 petition that AEDPA governed the district court’s analysis of his claims. In Mendoza’s petition and legal memorandum, Mendoza also did not argue for de novo review before the district court. Thus, he cannot now argue for the first time on appeal for a different standard of review. See Hurley v. Moore, 233 F.3d 1295, 1297 (11th Cir. 2000) (stating, in a § 2254 case, “[a]rguments raised for the first time on appeal are not properly before this Court”). In any event, we conclude AEDPA deference applies to the Florida Supreme Court’s performance ruling. The Florida Supreme Court conducted a lengthy discussion of the mitigation evidence that trial counsel presented through Dr. Toomer, Dr. Eisenstein, and Ms. Mendoza. See Mendoza IV, 87 So. 3d at 658–59. The Florida Supreme Court then acknowledged that, Mendoza’s post-conviction 50 Case: 13-14968 Date Filed: 07/31/2014 Page: 51 of 58 counsel presented testimony in the 3.850 hearing from these witnesses: “attorney Steven Potolsky, psychiatrist Dr. Eugenio Rothe, psychologist Dr. Ricardo Weinstein, Dr. Debra Mash, a professor of neurology and pharmacology, Beatrice Roman, a social worker living in Peru who works with Cuban refugees, psychologist Dr. Jethro Toomer, and Dr. Thomas Hyde, a specialist in behavioral neurology and neuropsychology.” Id. at 659. The Florida Supreme Court clearly understood the nature of Mendoza’s claim, which was that his trial counsel failed to investigate, discover, and present mitigation evidence. The Florida Supreme Court knew that Mendoza had presented new witnesses and evidence at the 3.850 hearing. After considering all of the 3.850 evidence, the state supreme court concluded, inter alia, that the fact that the testimony of the new experts “may be more favorable as to the degree of [Mendoza’s] mental status impairment does not establish that trial counsel’s investigation was deficient.” Id. Therefore, we are not persuaded by Mendoza’s argument and must apply the AEDPA deference standard to the Florida Supreme Court’s decision on Mendoza’s claim of ineffective trial counsel.