Opinion ID: 407646
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mishandling of Psychiatric Evidence

Text: 60 Appellant discusses at length his attorney's handling of the psychiatric evidence at the sentencing phase of his trial. At the core of his argument is the fact that the attorney learned of the conversations between appellant and Dr. Crumbley by a telephone call from the doctor the night before the trial and, without requesting a continuance or further investigating this matter, relied solely on Crumbley's testimony to establish a mitigation defense at appellant's sentencing hearing. Appellant enumerates many ways in which the attorney failed him, arguing that he should have requested a continuance, 33 obtained expert psychiatric assistance, 34 and perhaps should not have allowed admission of Dr. Crumbley's testimony at all. While having reviewed the transcript of the evidentiary hearing and the record of appellant's sentencing proceeding we may in hindsight agree that the attorney's performance was less than stellar, we cannot conclude that it fell below the standard of reasonably effective assistance.