Opinion ID: 2494563
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Failure to Object to Admission of DNA Evidence and Failure to Object to Dr. Pollock's Testimony About DNA

Text: Taylor asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise specific objections with regard to both the DNA evidence generally and Dr. Pollock's testimony. A review of the final order of the postconviction court reveals that the trial court articulated specific instances where trial counsel did challenge the DNA evidence. Further, although trial counsel did not present a DNA expert at trial who had been hired to assist the defense as a witness, trial counsel did testify that he had multiple conversations with the expert and was prepared to address the DNA evidence at trial. Counsel stated, My feeling and my level of comfort after talking about this with [the DNA expert] was very good. Here, a review of the record and the final order of the postconviction court reveals that trial counsel's alleged failure to object with regard to the DNA evidence, especially when viewed in unison with the vigorous cross-examine of Dr. Pollock, was reasonable. Trial counsel's failure to make specific objections appears to be the product of an overall strategy, and therefore his allegation of omission of certain specific objections does not amount to deficient performance. See Occhicone v. State, 768 So.2d 1037, 1048 (Fla.2000) ([S]trategic decisions do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been considered and rejected and counsel's decision was reasonable under the norms of professional conduct.). Taylor fails to satisfy the deficiency prong of Strickland, and, therefore, we need not address the prejudice prong of Strickland for this claim. See Reaves, 826 So.2d at 939.