Opinion ID: 1129349
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Failure to Present Mitigating Evidence in the Penalty Phase

Text: Lamarca claims that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to present evidence of mitigation in the penalty phase. This claim is without merit. First, Lamarca represented himself during the penalty phase; therefore, he cannot claim his trial counsel was deficient for decisions he made in conducting his defense during this phase. Second, as the trial court recognized, the record is replete with references to [Lamarca's] decisions to waive mitigation and abundantly demonstrates that [Lamarca's penalty phase counsel] began preparing for the penalty phase many months prior to trial. Finally, even if this were not the case, the trial court followed the procedures required to ensure Lamarca knowingly waived his right to present mitigation. In Koon, this Court recognized that defense counsel is not ineffective for honoring a criminal defendant's request that mitigating evidence not be presented in his case if counsel adequately investigated the potentially mitigating factors. 619 So.2d at 249-50. To ensure that counsel has adequately investigated mitigation, this Court requires defense counsel to inform the court on the record of the defendant's decision [not to present mitigating evidence], indicate whether counsel believes mitigating evidence exists and, if so, briefly describe that mitigating evidence to the court. Id. at 250. Then, the trial court must confirm with the defendant that his counsel discussed the matter of mitigation with him and that despite counsel's recommendation, the defendant wishes to waive presentation of mitigating evidence in the penalty phase. Id. Even though the trial court accepted Lamarca's request to represent himself, it still followed these procedures. The trial court asked Lamarca's penalty phase counsel to proffer the mitigating evidence she would have presented on Lamarca's behalf, and her statement addressed the issues Lamarca now claims she was ineffective for not raising. The trial court required Lamarca to confirm his defense counsel's assertion that he did not want to present mitigation. Lamarca intelligently responded to the trial court's questions, reserving the right to cross-examine the State's witnesses and making it clear that he wanted to offer a closing statement. We affirm the trial court's denial of this claim.