Opinion ID: 78417
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial Counsel's Effectiveness During The Penalty Phase

Text: Philmore asserts that his counsel was ineffective in failing to call Dr. Michael Maher as a witness during the penalty phase to testify that Philmore's organic brain damage supported the statutory mitigator of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance. During the guilt phase of the trial, the state had impeached Philmore's expert witness, Dr. Robert Berland, based on his use of an outdated medical test to evaluate Philmore's brain injury. Philmore contends that because of this impeachment, it was imperative that Garland utilize Dr. Maher as a witness. If Dr. Maher had testified about this statutory mitigator, Philmore submits the outcome of the penalty phase would have been different. Dr. Maher testified at a 1999 deposition and a 2004 state post-conviction evidentiary hearing. In his deposition, Dr. Maher, a psychologist, stated that during his interview of Philmore, Philmore fully and completely accepted responsibility for his actions and admitted being a willing participant in the crimes. R1-13, Accordion Folder 8, Exh. C-10, Vol. X, at 1439. Philmore's version of the events to Dr. Maher comported with his statements to the police. Dr. Maher believed these statements were factually accurate and that Philmore was engaged in his usual pattern of criminal activity when the crimes occurred. Id. at 1440. At the 2004 evidentiary hearing, Dr. Maher testified that a brain scan showed Philmore had an abnormality in the frontal lobes of his brain which caused Philmore to act impulsively. Dr. Maher admitted that he did not view Philmore's killing of Perron as an entirely impulsive act, however. Additionally, Dr. Maher testified that although Spann influenced Philmore, Dr. Maher was unable to conclude that Philmore had acted under the substantial domination of another. If Dr. Maher had been called at trial, he stated he would have testified that Philmore qualified for two other statutory mitigators: (1) extreme mental or emotional disturbance, and (2) substantial impairment of the capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct. The state post-conviction judge found that Garland spoke with Dr. Maher on several occasions and reviewed Dr. Maher's deposition and report. After consulting with co-counsel, Garland decided not to call Dr. Maher as a witness because he did not believe that Dr. Maher would add anything to Philmore's case. The state judge further found that Dr. Maher's opinion would have conflicted with two defense experts, Dr. Frank Wood and Dr. Berland. According to Dr. Maher, Philmore suffered brain damage in his frontal lobe, whereas Dr. Wood testified at trial that Philmore's brain abnormality was located towards the back section. In addition, Dr. Maher would have been unable to support Dr. Berland's testimony that Philmore was under the substantial domination of his co-defendant, Spann. The Florida Supreme Court concluded that Philmore had failed to demonstrate either deficient performance or prejudice under Strickland. See Philmore, 937 So.2d at 586-87. Dr. Maher's opinions would have partially contradicted those of the other defense experts, whose credibility had already been undermined by the state's expert. Id. at 586. It was therefore reasonable for trial counsel not to present conflicting expert opinions. See id. Moreover, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the record supported the trial court's finding that Garland made a tactical decision not to call Dr. Maher. Although Garland did not explain with specificity his reasons for not utilizing Dr. Maher, Garland clearly considered this alternative and rejected it. Id. at 587. Besides failing to establish any deficiency, Philmore also failed to establish any prejudice. See id. Garland had presented mitigation evidence through two experts and several lay witnesses. Given that both of those experts' testimony were impeached by the state, the Florida Supreme Court reasoned that the state could have successfully challenged Dr. Maher's opinions as well. See id. Consequently, the Florida Supreme Court concluded that trial counsel was not ineffective in this matter. See id. The state courts reasonably determined the facts from the record and reasonably applied Strickland in evaluating counsel's effectiveness. The evidence establishes that trial counsel investigated the possibility of utilizing Dr. Maher but ultimately determined that Dr. Maher's testimony was not necessary. Even though counsel did not elaborate further on his reasons, Philmore bore the burden of rebutting the strong presumption that counsel exercised reasonable professional judgment. See Chandler v. United States, 218 F.3d 1305, 1314 n. 15 (11th Cir.2000) ( en banc ) (`[W]here the record is incomplete or unclear about [counsel]'s actions, we will presume that he did what he should have done, and that he exercised reasonable professional judgment.'). This presumption of reasonableness was supported by evidence that Dr. Maher differed on key issues from the other defense experts. In addition to the inconsistencies noted by the state courts, Dr. Maher conflicted with Dr. Berland as to whether Philmore had an impaired capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct. Specifically, Dr. Berland testified at trial that Philmore could appreciate the criminality of his conduct and knew what he was doing was wrong. R1-13, Accordion Folder 4, Exh. A-23, Vol. XXIII, at 2138-39. Dr. Maher believed the opposite, opining that Philmore's capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct was substantially impaired. This difference in opinion would have weakened the credibility of both experts. Furthermore, Garland was not obligated to use Dr. Maher merely because Dr. Maher might have bolstered Dr. Berland's impeached testimony with respect to the mitigator of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Counsel has no absolute duty to present all mitigating evidence, even if the additional evidence would have been compatible with counsel's strategy. See Chandler, 218 F.3d at 1319. Considering the realities of the courtroom, more is not always better. Id. Rather, Garland's duty at the penalty phase was to investigate possible mitigating factors and make a reasonable effort to present mitigating evidence. See McClain v. Hall, 552 F.3d 1245, 1250 (11th Cir.2008). Garland fulfilled that duty here. Philmore has not shown that counsel's decision in this matter was constitutionally deficient. Nor has Philmore demonstrated any prejudice. To show prejudice, Philmore must establish a reasonable probability that absent the errors, the sentencer ... would have concluded that the balance of aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2069. This is not a situation where trial counsel failed to present any mitigating evidence. As the Florida Supreme Court found, two experts and several lay witnesses testified at the penalty phase in support of mitigation. See Philmore, 937 So.2d at 587. The trial court found several nonstatutory mitigators based in part on Philmore's abusive childhood, his history of drug and alcohol abuse, his cooperation with the state, and his expressed remorse for killing Perron. See Philmore, 820 So.2d at 925-26. These mitigating factors were outweighed by five aggravating circumstances, however, which included that Philmore committed the capital felony for pecuniary gain and did so in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner. [3] See id. at 925. Philmore has not demonstrated a reasonable probability that the addition of a third expert, who would have offered partially inconsistent opinions with the other defense experts, would have tilted the scales in favor of a life sentence. Accordingly, the state courts reasonably determined that counsel's decision not to utilize Dr. Maher during the penalty phase was neither deficient nor prejudicial.