Opinion ID: 776169
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mitigation Evidence Related to History of Mental Illness

Text: 87 During the sentencing stage, Mr. Freeman presented brief testimony from Mr. Bryan, his sister and his mother. First, Mr. Bryan testified to offer an explanation for an alleged assault that took place while he was incarcerated. Next, Mr. Bryan's mother and sister testified that Mr. Bryan had high moral standards, was nonviolent, and was a caring family member. This is the extent of evidence that Mr. Freeman believed he could present to counter the government's evidence of aggravators. See Vol. VII, at 1695-1734 (trial transcript). 88 Mitigating evidence plays an overwhelmingly important role in the 'just imposition of the death penalty.' Romano, 239 F.3d at 1180 (quoting Mayes, 210 F.3d at 1288). 'As a practical matter, the defendant probably has little or no chance of avoiding the death sentence unless the defense counsel gives the jury something to counter both the horror of the crime and the limited information the prosecution has introduced about the defendant.' Id. (quoting Jonathan P. Tomes, Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't: The Use of Mitigation Experts in Death Penalty Litigation, 24 Am. J. Crim. L. 359, 364 (1997)). Similarly, our case law is consistent with that of our sister circuits in rejecting the notion that a strategic decision can be reasonable when the attorney has failed to investigate his options and make a reasonable choice between them. 1 89 Here, Mr. Freeman admits that he did no other investigation or preparation for the second stage apart from talking to Mr. Bryan, Mr. Bryan's family and a doctor who had treated Mr. Bryan for diabetes. Mr. Freeman incorrectly believed that's all [he] had and he sought out nothing further. Evid. Hr'g Tr. at 108. 90 Mr. Bryan's unrefuted testimony likewise confirms that there just wasn't any preparation made for the penalty phase. Mr. Bryan was told minutes before he was called to the witness chair that he would be testifying. Mr. Bryan never discussed with Mr. Freeman the possibility of using mental health evidence in the second stage of the trial. Id. at 36-37. 91