Opinion ID: 51486
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at the Punishment Phase[7]

Text: Bower argues that Buckner was ineffective because he entered into a deal with the prosecution to limit the number of mitigation witnesses during the punishment phase. At the punishment phase, Buckner called Denise Bower, Bower's sister, Cheryl Smiley, Bower's sister, Jo Werford, Bower's mother-in-law, Wilma Bower, Bower's mother, Kelly Hamilton, Bower's sister-in-law, and Lorene Hallifax, Bower's friend, as character witnesses. During the evidentiary hearing before the district court, several of Buckner's relatives and friends testified that they would have provided character evidence for Bower if Buckner had called them to the stand. In Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 396, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000), the Supreme Court held that an attorney's decision not to present additional mitigating evidence was ineffective where such evidence was voluminous and graphically described the defendant's nightmarish childhood. In this case, there was no additional mitigating evidence that Buckner failed to present. Bower argued before the district court that there were specific potential character witnesses, notably Robert Triplett, a childhood friend, Gary Dawson, a high school friend, and Mike Smiley, Bower's brother-in-law, that Buckner failed to call to the stand in the penalty phase. However, the testimony that Bower posits that these witnesses could have presented, such as his commitment to truthfulness as a child, the fact that he was a Boy Scout, and his resourcefulness, do not materially add to the evidence of good character that Buckner put before the jury. Buckner's strategic decision not to call additional character witnesses was not ineffective where Bower cannot demonstrate that additional witnesses would have given testimony materially differing in substance from the multiple witnesses Buckner called to the stand. Specifically, Bower points to Buckner's decision not to call Dr. Sanford Frank, a psychologist who testified at an earlier bond hearing, to testify concerning Bower's propensity for future violence during the punishment phase. Although Bower argued below that Buckner failed to call additional witnesses during the punishment phase, Bower never argued that Buckner was deficient for failing to call Dr. Frank to present expert testimony during this hearing, and the district court heard no testimony on this issue. We will not consider issues raised for the first time on appeal, United States v. Scott, 672 F.2d 454, 455 (5th Cir.1982), and this argument is waived. Additionally, the argument is also likely meritless. Dr. Frank would have been subject to cross-examination about the psychological tests he administered to Bower that indicated to him that Bower was being untruthful. Furthermore, calling Dr. Frank may have invited negative psychiatric testimony from the state on the issue of future dangerousness. Even if the issue were not waived, it is likely that Buckner's performance was not deficient.
Bower alleges that Buckner did not adequately prepare witnesses for the punishment phase and did not speak to some witnesses at all. Buckner testified at the evidentiary hearing that he began preparing for the punishment phase before jury selection by developing a list of witnesses and researching background information about Bower. Buckner testified that he focused on specific instances from Bower's background where he had been a hero and done really great things for people, giving specific instances of really outstanding human kindness and thoughtful behavior. Additionally, Buckner testified that he did not put anybody on the stand without talking to them or knowing what they were going to say. Based on this testimony, which the district court found credible, Buckner did in fact prepare witnesses for the punishment phase. Bower argues that Buckner's questioning of Jo Werford, Bower's mother-in-law, demonstrates that Buckner did not prepare for the punishment phase. Jo Werford admitted under cross-examination by the state that a gun [8] she had reported missing from her home was later found at Bower's home. Bower argues that Buckner would not have called Jo Werford if he had adequately prepared for the punishment phase because he would have known she would give damaging testimony. See Fisher v. Gibson, 282 F.3d 1283, 1296 (10th Cir.2002) (Where an attorney accidentally brings out testimony that is damaging because he has failed to prepare, his conduct cannot be called a strategic choice. . . .). However, Buckner spoke to each mitigation witness before he or she testified. Accordingly, Bower's reliance on Fisher is misplaced because that case faulted counsel's performance where counsel had no strategy and had undertaken no preparation. Id. Because Buckner conducted a reasonable investigation in preparation for the penalty phase, we affirm and find no deficiency.