Opinion ID: 1805126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Preparation and investigation

Text: Power alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to utilize a wealth of mitigating evidence, including aspects of his personal and family life which could have been presented via expert psychiatric evidence and the testimony of family members. With respect to testimony from family members, it is well settled that evidence of family background and personal history may be considered in mitigation. See Stevens v. State, 552 So.2d 1082, 1086 (Fla.1989). At the evidentiary hearing, Power presented six family witnesses, all of whom stated that they were not contacted by the defense, and would have testified on Power's behalf if asked to do so. The record also reflects, however, that due to prior experience representing Power, trial counsel was aware of Power's difficult background. At the evidentiary hearing, Power presented substantial mitigation evidence, based on various records, the testimony of family members, and the testimony of mental health experts. At issue is whether trial counsel's alleged failure to fully develop and present this evidence, under the facts of this case, was reasonable. In this case, the guilt phase ended on June 3, 1990, and as early as July 12, 1990, trial counsel and Power participated in an in camera hearing with the trial court during which Power clearly stated that he was against the presentation of mitigation evidence revolving around his personal life. Additionally, trial counsel and Power participated in a second in camera hearing before the court on October 11, 1990, just a few weeks prior to the penalty phase. At that time, trial counsel renewed his concerns with Power's decision and those concerns were echoed by the court. However, Power stated on the record that against the advice of counsel, he did not wish to present this aspect of mitigation. At the penalty phase, trial counsel stated again, on the record, that Power would not allow him to present certain testimony in mitigation. It is noteworthy that Power did not waive the presentation of all mitigation evidence, but only that evidence which related to his personal background and family life, and evidence that he believed would suggest that he was conceding guilt for Bare's murder. [5] In evaluating the competence of counsel, we must examine the actual performance of counsel in preparation for and during the penalty phase proceedings, as well as the reasons advanced therefor. Rose v. State, 675 So.2d 567, 572 (Fla.1996). In Rose, trial counsel's deficient performance deprived Rose of a reliable penalty phase proceeding where counsel was unfamiliar with the concept of aggravating and mitigating factors, and failed to obtain records relevant to Rose's mental problems. Id. at 572. In Power's case, nothing in the record questions trial counsel's competence in terms of understanding the principles of aggravating and mitigating factors. Indeed, the fact that trial counsel sought an in camera hearing only weeks into the penalty phase preparation due to his concern about the direction that the development of mitigation was taking suggests that trial counsel clearly understood the dangers inherent in not presenting potentially effective mitigation. Trial counsel was aware of potentially helpful mitigation, and did obtain and review relevant records. In fact, the record reflects that trial counsel spent in excess of two hundred hours preparing for the penalty phase. Additionally, substantially distinguishing Power's case, nowhere in Rose is there any recorded documentation of the defendant's waiver of mitigation. In Rutherford v. State, 727 So.2d 216 (Fla.1998), this Court affirmed the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief where Rutherford claimed that counsel failed to properly investigate and present mitigating evidence. Like Power, Rutherford also interfered with trial counsel's conduct by placing limitations on what could and could not be presented during the penalty phase. This Court found Rutherford's uncooperativeness a critical factor: We find no error in the trial court's determination that Rutherford's lack of cooperation was a hindrance to presenting additional mitigation evidence regarding his military background. Trial counsel testified to himself having a military background and being otherwise familiar with how to effectively use military decorations in mitigation, but that Rutherford did not want me to use any military background or record, and would not discuss Vietnam service or his Marine Corps service in general until he unexpectedly did so on the stand during the penalty phase. Trial counsel similarly testified that Rutherford discouraged his parents from talking to or cooperating with trial counsel. As found by the trial court, Rutherford's uncooperativeness at trial belies his present claim that his trial counsel was deficient for not investigating and presenting mitigation regarding his harsh childhood and military history. Id. at 225. These factors are extremely similar to this case, in which Power refused to allow trial counsel to present evidence pertaining to his personal background and family life, and like Rutherford, even encouraged his mother not to testify. Power admitted his interference with trial counsel's investigation at the October 11, 1990, in camera hearing, at which the following exchange occurred: Trial counsel: To be frank, I have talked to all of them. In fact, Mr. Power's mother talked to me at length, before this case came up, in the previous case. So that's why I was keenly interested in the information. And I can understand why he feels the way he feels. And I think it is a matter of judgment and a matter of, of, of tactics, to some extent. I think it would be helpful. And I've said that all along and he knows that. But he knows what  why I think it would be helpful and we have gone over it at length and I've talked to his mother at length. She won't talk to me anymore about it and, and to my investigator. But the one time he contacted her, she said she will deny ever having told me what she told me. And that's her privilege at this point. The Defendant: That was at my request because I informed her that I didn't want to present them as witnesses and asked her not to speak any further about things regarding my case or my past. As in Rutherford, where there is proof that counsel spent substantial effort on the case and was familiar with the mitigation, but also evidence that Power himself interfered with trial counsel's ability to obtain and present mitigating evidence, this Court will not overrule a trial court's conclusion that counsel's performance was not deficient. [6]