Opinion ID: 1805126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Adequacy of Power's waiver

Text: It is well settled that a defendant's waiver of mitigation must be knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made. See State v. Lewis, 838 So.2d 1102, 1112 (Fla.2002). Power asserts that trial counsel's failure to evaluate Power for competency to waive mitigation constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. He contends that an evaluation either prior to trial or during the penalty preparation phase would have produced sufficient concerns that Power was incompetent to make a knowing and intelligent waiver of mitigation. The question is, however, whether a reasonable attorney, at the time, would have proceeded in such a manner. [T]he proper standard for attorney performance is that of reasonably effective assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. In this case, trial counsel testified that he got along with Power, that Power actively participated in his defense, that he appeared alert and oriented, and therefore counsel had no reason to detect any competency issues. Counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing that he was convinced that Power's insistence on avoiding the mitigation evidence in question was the product of Power's own beliefs and stubbornness, not the product of any mental health problems. Additionally, there is no indication that the trial court itself doubted Power's competency to waive mitigation; rather, the record reflects the contrary. Therefore, where the circumstances indicate a reasonable attorney would not have surmised a need for a competency determination in this case, we conclude that trial counsel's failure to have Power examined for competency did not constitute deficient performance. The facts in Power's case are distinguishable from the facts in this Court's recent decision in State v. Lewis, 838 So.2d 1102 (Fla.2002), in which this Court held, despite an alleged waiver from the defendant, that trial counsel's performance was deficient due to his failure to attempt to discover mitigation in Lewis's records or from Lewis's family members. See Lewis, 838 So.2d at 1109. As in the instant case, Lewis instructed counsel not to present mitigating evidence. However, in Lewis, Lewis's attorney delayed commencing the penalty phase investigation, expended little effort to obtain witnesses or review relevant records, and spent less than eighteen hours total in preparation for the penalty phase. Id. As a result, trial counsel's failure to research potential mitigation resulted in a determination that Lewis's ability to make an informed waiver was substantially impacted. Id. Lewis is distinguishable from this case, where Power's trial counsel was aware of potential mitigation, discussed the presentation of evidence with Power, and continued to conduct an investigation into Power's background even though Power said that he did not want such information presented. As a result, trial counsel's performance provided Power with the ability to make an informed waiver of mitigation evidence. Power's argument that his waiver was inadequate is undermined by the detailed nature of the discussions on the record at the in camera hearings, which reflect an aware and involved defendant. In sum, the record supports the trial court's conclusion that counsel conducted a reasonable investigation under the circumstances, and was perfectly poised to proceed with a thorough presentation of mitigating evidence including Power's background, if Power had allowed him to do so. It appears the omission from the penalty phase of the wealth of mitigation presented at the evidentiary hearing was the result of compliance with a competent client's demands  not ineffectiveness on trial counsel's part.