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

Heading: A Single Defense Counsel Constitutes Ineffective Assistance Per Se.

Text: Zebroski claims it was inappropriate for [defense counsel] to handle Zebroski's capital defense without the assistance of other counsel. [18] The Superior Court judge, in his Opinion and Order denying Zebroski's Motion for Postconviction Relief, determined that Zebroski's trial counsel was very experienced in representing capital murder defendants with and without co-counsel. Zebroski's trial attorney is among the most seasoned criminal litigators in Delaware. Since he started practicing law in 1972, trial counsel has represented almost 25 capital murder defendants. [19] The judge also noted that Zebroski's case was relatively straightforward and did not involve sophisticated scientific analysis or many witnesses. Modern Delaware practice usually results in more than one trial attorney for a capital defendant. The Public Defender's Office routinely assigns two Public Defenders to defend capital cases. We recognize that fundamental fairness entitles indigent defendants in a capital case to the basic tools of an adequate defense: We recognized long ago that mere access to the courthouse doors does not by itself assure a proper functioning of the adversary process, and that a criminal trial is fundamentally unfair if the [prosecution] proceeds against an indigent defendant without making certain that he has access to the raw materials integral to the building of an effective defense. [20] We also recognize that the American Bar Association recommends that each capital defendant possess a lead counsel who assembles a defense team with (a) at least one mitigation specialist and one fact investigator; (b) at least one member qualified by training and experience to screen individuals for the presence of mental or psychological disorders or impairments; and (c) any other members needed to provide high quality legal representation. [21] We agree that, if feasible, staffing in a capital murder case in accordance with those standards, especially providing separate counsel in the penalty phase of a capital murder case, is desirable and, in a given case, lack of proper staffing could be a factor in weighing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, but this is not such a case. The Public Defender's Office provided trial counsel here with logistical support including social workers, psychologists and other investigative case workers. Before trial, Zebroski's trial counsel ordered a detailed evaluation by a reputable psychologist. Our precedent requires that Zebroski must show that his trial counsel's actions fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and there exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the trial would have been different. Neither precedent nor logic demands that an objective standard of reasonableness requires a minimum threshold team of attorneys and related personnel in order to meet Sixth Amendment requirements. Conceivably, even a team of attorneys and other professionals could still provide ineffective assistance of counsel. Strickland and its progeny require a fact intensive, case-by-case analysis of the representation actually provided by defendant's counsel. Accordingly, we now turn to Zebroski's specific allegations of prejudice resulting from his alleged ineffective counsel representing him without co-counsel at trial.