Opinion ID: 1797214
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Whether the Failure to Object to Aggravating Circumstances Constitutes Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Text: This issue, including its three subsections, was raised in the direct appeal, and is not suitable for review under a post-conviction collateral relief petition, as it is procedurally barred. Foster counters with the argument that procedural bars do not apply to consideration of aggravating circumstances. Foster attempts to lure this Court into the same dangerous waters of inconsistency which cause the special treatment afforded the especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravator. See Smith v. Black, 970 F.2d 1383, 1386-87 (5th Cir.1992). The procedural bar established for post-conviction relief can be due to failure to make a contemporaneous objection at trial or on failure to raise the issue on appeal. Such objections and issues are not new. Aggravating circumstances do not get special treatment, but issues receiving inconsistent applications of procedural bars do get special treatment on federal review. Without relaxing the bar, we independently consider the merits of whether failure to object to these three aggravators constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.