Opinion ID: 2569334
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Failure to Adequately Investigate Mental Defense

Text: Counsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. In any effectiveness case, a particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel's judgments. State v. Orr, 262 Kan. 312, 327, 940 P.2d 42 (1997) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 691, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 104 S. Ct. 2052, reh. denied 467 U.S. 1267 [1984]). Hedges contends his attorneys' failure to investigate and explain the mental defenses available precluded him from making an informed decision regarding whether to pursue a mental defect defense. Hedges' pretrial attorney zealously advocated a mental defense, requested funds to hire an expert, and filed a notice of intent to assert a common law insanity defense. Based on this notice, the State conducted a mental examination. Hedges opposed the examination, refused to sign the necessary medical records waivers, and caused the pretrial attorney to be discharged because of his objections. Although the trial attorney was aware that Hedges would not permit a mental defense, the attorney suggested the mental defense on numerous occasions. Hedges continued to assert that he wanted to use the trial as a forum to expose his ex-wife's transgressions. After evaluating Hedges' records and evaluations, trial counsel concluded that a mental defense would not be successful because no expert would testify that Hedges was unable to form the intent necessary to commit the crimes charged. Applying deference to counsels' judgment, Hedges' opposition to an investigation into his mental illness together with counsels' evaluation that Hedges' mental illness did not impair Hedges' capacity to form the requisite intent support counsels' decision not to further investigate. Hedges was not denied effective assistance of counsel based on counsels' failure to thoroughly investigate a mental defense.