Opinion ID: 65351
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The State Habeas Corpus Proceeding

Text: After an unsuccessful direct appeal, Day filed a state habeas petition in which she alleged that her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance during the guilt/innocence phase by failing to review much of the State's medical evidence prior to trial, failing to cross-examine some of the State's medical experts, and failing to secure the assistance of a medical expert for the defense. [5] In support of her petition, Day pointed to comments made by her lead attorney before trial that he had not reviewed all available records. Approximately one month prior to trial, the State filed medical records it intended to rely upon in prosecuting Day. One week before trial, the district court clerk delivered copies of the medical records to Day's counsel. On the same day, Day's lead attorney filed a hand-written motion to continue, explaining that he would need more time to review the voluminous records, to investigate the State's medical evidence, and to secure a medical expert. Day's counsel did not explain why he did not take the opportunity to review the records in the clerk's office before the clerk delivered copies of the records to him. The State's attorney responded that she had made the records available in her office for the preceding six months but that Day's counsel never sought the records directly from her. The trial court denied the continuance. On the first day of trial, Day's counsel stated that he still had not reviewed many of the medical records received from the State the previous week. The district court that initially reviewed Day's petition ordered Day's trial counsel to file affidavits addressing whether, and to what extent, they reviewed and prepared for the State's medical evidence. Day's lead trial attorney passed away shortly after Day's trial and before the state habeas proceedings. Co-counsel representing Day at trial submitted an affidavit in which he testified that Day's trial counsel read the medical records prior to trial but sought the continuance to try to slow the train down. He did not explain why they failed to secure a medical expert to assist in Day's defense. Day submitted to the state habeas court the affidavit of Dr. John Galaznik. Galaznik, a certified pediatrician, testified in the affidavit that he reviewed the State's testifying medical experts' testimony and the X-ray and CT scan reports but did not review the actual studies or photographs of the patients. Galaznik concluded that: (1) clear evidence existed within the medical record that Emma's head injury and central nervous system (CNS) pathology occurred before Emma was placed in Day's care; (2) Dr. Owen, who testified that Emma's CNS pathology was two-to-four weeks old when he diagnosed it, was aware of evidence that the pathology was present more than seven weeks before it was diagnosed; (3) Dr. McGehee, who testified that Emma was fine until June 11, 1997 when she suffered injuries that exhibited shaken baby syndrome, failed to take note of evidence that proved that Emma's CNS symptoms were well established by May 5, 1997; (4) Emma's head injury was caused either by her parents' abuse or perinatal trauma; (5) many contradictions existed within the State's evidence that cast doubt as to the validity of the State's shaken baby hypothesis and Dr. McGehee's theory regarding the cause of Emma's head injury; and (6) clear medical disagreement existed that would cast doubt upon the State's theory that Nathan's and Emma's femoral fractures were not caused by accidental forces. The state district court made findings of fact and conclusions of law, including: the facts stated in trial counsel's affidavit were true; trial counsel reviewed the medical records and were prepared for the State's medical evidence at trial; the failure to contest the majority of the medical conclusions of the State's experts was the result of reasonable trial strategy by Day's counsel; it was reasonable not to call a defense expert to contest the State's medical evidence in light of the defense strategy that identity of the perpetrator was the primary issue and the jurors would likely find the State's doctor's testimony credible; trial counsel provided representation within the standards of reasonableness established by professional norms; and the result of the proceeding would not have differed even if trial counsel adopted a different cross-examination strategy of the State's medical experts. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the findings and conclusions and denied relief without opinion.