Opinion ID: 1465675
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Failure to Object to Evidence of Victim's Religious Activities

Text: Mr. Johnson claimed that counsel was ineffective during the penalty phase for failing to object to evidence concerning the victim's religious activities under Ark. R. Evid. 401 to 403 and 610, and outside the scope permitted by Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 115 L.Ed.2d 720 (1991). The circuit court denied relief, concluding that this court settled the issue in Johnson II, and that counsel did make proper objection at trial and that the evidence was admissible. We did rule in Johnson II that counsel failed to preserve for appeal any argument on this issue. 342 Ark. at 199, 27 S.W.3d 405. Once again, however, appellant's argument is conclusory in that he fails to explain why the evidence would have been excluded if counsel's objections had been more detailed, and fails to explain why the evidence falls outside the scope of Payne . In short, his argument falls short of showing either deficient performance or prejudice. Therefore, the trial court did not clearly err in denying Rule 37 relief on this point.