Opinion ID: 2631199
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Counsel's Failure to Propose Lingering Doubt Instruction

Text: According to Petitioner's PRP, Leatherman requested the court instruct the jury that lingering doubt is a mitigating circumstance, but the court failed to give the instruction. PRP at 28. Leatherman failed to register an exception to the court's decision. Id. Petitioner's own brief indicates counsel did not fail to propose the lingering doubt instruction, and thus Petitioner's claim on this issue misstates the facts. Moreover, as the State suggests, because Leatherman did propose it, there can be no ineffective assistance of counsel claim here. State's Resp. at 62. The State also correctly points out that Petitioner argues mostly that the trial court should have given the instruction and that this argument has nothing to do with the ineffectiveness of counsel. Id. at 62-63.