Opinion ID: 573090
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Development of mitigating evidence.

Text: 83 Wilkerson asserts that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because trial counsel failed to investigate factors in his background and mental competency which would have produced mitigating evidence. Wilkerson argues that, had trial counsel conducted an independent background investigation, they would have discovered substantial mitigating evidence. 84 The mitigating evidence Wilkerson now asserts was available consists of: school records which reveal that a psychologist or psychiatrist interviewed Wilkerson as a child and found he had mental limitations; his alleged present mental impairment; his alleged deprived family background; and, his asserted past good behavior and lack of criminal record. Because his attorneys at trial failed to discover or develop this mitigating evidence, Wilkerson claims he is entitled to relief. 85 These allegations are not sufficient, however, to demonstrate that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. We must strongly presume that trial counsel rendered adequate assistance and that the challenged conduct was the product of reasoned trial strategy. Strickland at 690, 104 S.Ct. at 2066. Wilkerson's assertions do not counteract Strickland 's presumption. Although no mitigating evidence or witnesses were presented by defense counsel at the punishment phase, failure to present mitigating evidence if based on an informed and reasoned practical judgment, is well within the range of practical choices not to be second-guessed. Mattheson v. King, 751 F.2d 1432, 1441 (5th Cir.1985). 86 Wilkerson's trial counsel interviewed Wilkerson, his mother, and other relatives. Neither Wilkerson nor his relatives were able to supply the names of potential defense witnesses. Investigation did not reveal reason to suspect that Wilkerson's mental capacity was in any fashion impaired. [W]hen a defendant has given counsel reason to believe that pursuing certain investigations would be fruitless or even harmful, counsel's failure to pursue those investigations may not later be challenged as unreasonable. Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 795, 107 S.Ct. 3114, 3126, 97 L.Ed.2d 638 (1987) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. at 2066). Wilkerson does not here assert the failure of trial counsel to object to the prosecutor's peremptory challenges as ineffective assistance of counsel. Wilkerson has failed to demonstrate that counsel's performance was defective within the meaning of Strickland. 87