Opinion ID: 1786306
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: mental mitigation summary denial

Text: In this claim, Bowles argues that the postconviction court inappropriately summarily denied a postconviction claim below. Bowles thus requests that we remand for an evidentiary hearing on whether his trial counsel were ineffective. Bowles states that his claim below was that trial counsel were ineffective for failing to sufficiently present mental mitigation evidence. The postconviction court denied this claim, stating: In claim one, Bowles alleges that trial counsel were deficient in presenting mental health mitigation and that the Court erred in not finding the existence of the two mental mitigators when the evidence supported said mitigators. Initially, the Court notes that allegations of trial court error could and should have been raised on direct appeal. Moreover, the instant allegation of error by the trial court was in fact raised and rejected by the Florida Supreme Court on direct appeal. Bowles v. State, 804 So.2d 1173, 1180-83 (Fla.2001). Bowles, having raised this claim on direct appeal, is procedurally barred from raising it again in a motion for post-conviction relief. Accordingly, the instant claim is procedurally barred. Further, to the extent Bowles alleges ineffective assistance of counsel, Bowles may not attempt to circumvent this procedural bar by inserting conclusory allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel. Thompson v. State, 796 So.2d 511, [515] n. 5 (Fla.2001); Lopez v. Singletary, 634 So.2d 1054, 1057 (Fla.1993). Accordingly, the instant claim is denied. Postconviction Order at 11-12 (citations omitted). We affirm the postconviction court on this issue. Bowles' postconviction motion below raised two claims: (1) that the trial court erred in not finding the existence of two mental mitigators; and (2) that trial counsel were deficient in presenting mental mitigation. As to the first, this claim was raised and rejected by this Court on direct appeal. Bowles II, 804 So.2d at 1180-83. Accordingly, it is procedurally barred. As to the second, competent, substantial evidence supports the postconviction court's finding that Bowles' allegations below of ineffective assistance of counsel were insufficient. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure rule 3.851(e)(1)(D) requires that a 3.851 motion include a detailed allegation of the factual basis for any claim for which an evidentiary hearing is sought. Bowles' claim below did not include a detailed allegation of a factual basis for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. In fact, it contained essentially no such basis in fact or law. At best, four sentences out of five and a half pages of argument addressed trial counsel's ineffectiveness; the remainder addressed trial court error. These four sentences alleged that counsel failed to present sufficient mental mitigation evidence, without explaining what evidence should have been presented, and that counsel failed to investigate and present evidence concisely, without explaining how the presentation was flawed or what should have been investigated or citing any examples of either. Accordingly, because Bowles' conclusory arguments on ineffective assistance of counsel are insufficient and an attempt to relitigate issues that are procedurally barred, we deny relief on this claim.