Opinion ID: 2346553
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial Counsel's Presentation of Mitigation Evidence

Text: All trial counsel in capital cases generally have a duty to investigate potentially mitigating evidence for use at the penalty phase. [22] Meeting this duty does not require that counsel pursue all lines of investigation, nor does it require that trial counsel present all potentially mitigating evidence, or even all mitigating evidence uncovered. [23] That other witnesses might have been available is insufficient, alone, to prove ineffective assistance of counsel. [24] Counsel can make reasonable choices and focus the investigation on what might best convince a jury to recommend life. [25] To be reasonably competent, [counsel] need not present cumulative evidence. [26] The trial judge listed several mitigating circumstances presented by trial counsel: Zebroski's youth; [27] Zebroski has a family that loves him; the dysfunctional nature of his family; [28] the presence of friends who continue to support him; Zebroski's history of psychological problems and disorders; his history of substance abuse and addiction; the debilitating effects of alcohol and drugs on Zebroski's capacity for decisionmaking; the favorable prognosis for positive adjustment to prison; and Zebroski's punishment relative to his codefendant. We disagree with Zebroski's claim that the process employed in order to develop and present mitigation evidence began far too late for Zebroski to have received a fair penalty hearing. The record reflects that trial counsel presented substantial evidence about Zebroski's personal history, the effects of his prolonged substance abuse, and the effects of his upbringing in a dysfunctional and abusive family. The Superior Court judge concluded: In fact, trial counsel spoke with Zebroski's mother even before Zebroski was charged. Before trial, Zebroski's trial counsel ordered and obtained a detailed evaluation by a reputable psychologist. From the outset, the public defender's office provided logistical support for trial counsel, including social workers, psychologists, and other investigative case workers. The record reveals that trial counsel was still assembling the mitigation case even after the trial was underway. But that is a far cry from any suggestions that trial counsel was not working on mitigation until after the trial had started. [29] The record supports the trial judge's observations. Trial counsel prepared for the penalty phase immediately and proceeded in parallel with preparations for the guilt phase. Moreover, trial counsel emphasized the importance of preparing the mitigation case immediately because of the strength of the State's case in the guilt phase of the trial. [30] Trial counsel noted the difficulty of preparing simultaneously for both the guilt and penalty phases of a capital case: It's one of the things that's a little bit difficult to explain to the family, that you're trying to prepare for a penalty phase at the same time you're trying to prepare a defense on the merits of the case. [31] Counsel's observation highlights that he was aware of the importance of developing mitigating evidence early in his representation. Trial counsel also had the support of the entire Public Defender's Office. Beth Dewson, head of the forensic unit, assisted with the preparation of a mitigation case. Mel Slawik, holder of a master's degree in social work and a psychoforensic evaluator, [32] helped gather background information about Zebroski and generally supported trial counsel in preparing for the penalty phase of the trial. Trial counsel also retained the services Dr. Mandell Much to develop Zebroski's personal history. Zebroski asserts that the trial judge misinterpreted the factual record and therefore erred when reaching several conclusions about the mitigation case actually presented. Zebroski acknowledges that the trial judge concluded in his Postconviction Opinion that trial counsel spoke with Zebroski's mother before Zebroski was charged. Zebroski claims, however, that this meeting had nothing to do with preparation of a mitigation case. We believe the record contradicts Zebroski's assertion. Trial counsel testified that I talked to [Zebroski's mother] about the process, I talked to her about the guilt/innocence phase, and I talked to her about her son's background and possible witnesses with respect to mitigation. Trial counsel testified that this conversation occurred a week after Zebroski's arrest. [33] Zebroski also claims the trial judge erred by concluding that trial counsel ordered and obtained before trial a detailed evaluation by a reputable psychologist. Zebroski argues the evaluation occurred only days before trial and the final report became available two weeks after the start of Zebroski's trial. Trial counsel testified, however, that he instructed the psychologist to delay preparation of a report on Zebroski until a date closer to trial and therefore limit the time available for the state to prepare a response. [34] Zebroski also asserts that trial counsel portrayed his mother as a victim rather than as a woman who suffered from alcoholism and who associated with abusive men. Zebroski's postconviction expert, Dr. Burry, opined that trial counsel's questioning of Zebroski's mother failed to highlight the domestic violence, child abuse, internal chaos, isolation, substance abuse, multiple stepfathers and paramours, and mental illness within the family. In the penalty phase, however, trial counsel's expert, Dr. Much testified in detail about Zebroski's personal history. In addition, trial counsel called a close family friend who testified about Zebroski's violent home life and the problems Zebroski had to confront as a result. In fact, the trial judge stated that the evidence presented by trial counsel concerning Zebroski's childhood was compelling and that Zebroski had almost no chance to develop into a non-violent, clear thinking, productive person. Zebroski also complains that trial counsel inadequately presented the deleterious effects of PCP during the penalty phase. Zebroski presented expert testimony at the postconviction relief hearing highlighting the effects of intoxication with alcohol, marijuana, and PCP. Zebroski asserts that trial counsel's delay in preparing a mitigation defense prevented the jury from hearing the effect of PCP on Zebroski when he committed the murder. As the trial judge recognized, however, trial counsel retained Dr. Much not only to develop a record of Zebroski's personal history, but also to testify about the impact of Zebroski's substance abuse, including the effects of Zebroski's use of PCP. Trial counsel testified that he was familiar with the effects of PCP: I mean I handled so many cases with PCP, and I know how absolutely terrible the drug is and what effects it has on people ... I'm not obviously a psychologist et cetera, but I mean I was aware of the that when I discussed the PCP issue with Doctor Much. [35] During the penalty phase, Dr. Much told the jury about Zebroski's use of PCP and effects of PCP on Zebroski's perceptions. Dr. Much told the jury that Zebroski would adjust and not be a dangerous person in prison because the problematic behavior would moderate if Zebroski abstained from drug and alcohol abuse. Dr. Much's testimony and conclusions were consistent with, and perhaps even rendered cumulative, the conclusions presented by Zebroski's expert in the postconviction relief hearing. In sum, trial counsel made substantial efforts to discover and present the information that Zebroski suggests should have been better used in the penalty phase. Zebroski's postconviction relief motion claims that Zebroski omitted information as a result of inadequate preparation for the penalty phase that, in fact, was placed squarely before the jury. Thus, there is simply no reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different had trial counsel presented the evidence in the form advanced by Zebroski at the postconviction relief hearing. [36]