Opinion ID: 1753481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: Teri BurnsLearning Disability Expert

Text: The motion court found trial counsel ineffective for failing to have Glass evaluated by a learning disability expert such as Teri Burns. Burns is a speech-language pathologist who conducts psycho-educational evaluations. Burns evaluated Glass at the request of Glass's post-conviction counsel. She determined that he has learning difficulties or disabilities and that he did not receive the necessary special services to accommodate his special educational needs. Counsel testified that he was not aware of Teri Burns prior to trial and that he has never had an expert in learning disabilities evaluate any of his clients because it was not something that occurred to him. He did have Glass evaluated by a child development expert, Dr. Wanda Draper. Counsel decided not to call Dr. Draper. That decision was not challenged in the PCR motion. In a death penalty case, counsel is required to discover all reasonably available mitigating evidence. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 524, 123 S.Ct. 2527, 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003) (internal citation omitted). Counsel is not ineffective for failing to shop for an expert that would testify in a particular way. Edwards v. State, 200 S.W.3d at 518. In Edwards, movant argued that his trial counsel were ineffective for failing to call an expert who would have diagnosed him with Asperger's Disorder, because this diagnosis would have been mitigating evidence. Id. at 518-19. Edward's trial counsel had consulted with three experts and prepared an adequate social history. Id. This Court held that trial counsel were not ineffective for failing to consult additional experts. Id. Here, counsel had Glass evaluated by three different experts, investigated over 30 lay witnesses, and reviewed medical records and school records. Counsel took the necessary steps to discover all reasonably available mitigating evidence, including any possible mental issues that could provide mitigating evidence. The trial court clearly erred in finding counsel ineffective for failing to consult with a learning disability expert.