Opinion ID: 1133749
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Prepare Adequately for Penalty Phase

Text: In this case counsel's failure to investigate and present mitigation as mandated by case law was complete. The inadequacy of Hannon's counsel's performance included a failure to prepare adequately for the penalty phase, a failure to consider the ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Counsel in Death Penalty Cases and other resources available to him, a failure to investigate available drug and alcohol abuse mitigation, a failure to investigate mental health mitigation, and a failure to investigate Hannon's family background. Importantly, the majority fails to even acknowledge capital counsel's fundamental obligation to investigate his client's background and counsel's failure to meet this obligation, but rather continuously cites trial counsel's self-serving postconviction testimony and version of his discussions with Hannon's family to support its holding that trial counsel's strategy during the penalty phase was not faulty, without paying more than lipservice to Hannon's family's testimony regarding trial counsel's conduct. As noted above, Hannon's counsel claimed his strategy was only that Hannon was not the type of character to be involved in the crime that occurred. The majority cites penalty phase testimony from Toni Acker and Hannon's mother and father that he did not have the type of character to commit the crime, and holds that this testimony supports trial counsel's strategy. However, even as to this misguided and uninformed tactic, the majority fails to note that trial counsel's investigation and preparation consisted only of brief discussions with Hannon at the jail, brief discussions with his mother and father at the trial during breaks, and a brief discussion with Maureen Hannon outside the courtroom when she was called as a defense witness during the guilt phase. Hannon's counsel prepared Mr. and Ms. Hannon by simply telling them to get up thereand remember this is our defense and basically you've just got to look at the jury and tell them what you feel from your heart. That was it. Although Hannon's counsel stated that he had asked Hannon's family members if Hannon was born with any problems and the family members did not bring any mental health issues to his attention, the testimony of Hannon's family members tells a different story. Hannon's sister stated that Hannon's counsel never asked her about his life before the murders, his drug and alcohol use, or his home life. She asserted, I had actually tried to contact [Hannon's counsel] on more than one occasion and he absolutely refused to listen to what I had to say or contribute. He did not want to talk to me at all. I never had a phone call returned. She was also listed as a witness for the penalty phase by Hannon's attorney but was never called during the penalty phase. Hannon's attorney erroneously had her listed as living in a different state even though she lived in Florida. She stated at the evidentiary hearing, [Hannon's counsel] told me I had nothing to contribute and he didn't need me for anything. Hannon's mother testified that Hannon's counsel did not prepare his family for their testimony at the penalty phase and did not explain the purpose of a penalty phase. At the evidentiary hearing, the following exchange occurred: Q. Did [Hannon's counsel] ever tell you what a penalty phase was for? A. No. Q. Did [Hannon's counsel] ever discuss the purpose of mitigation in a death penalty phase? A. I don't understand mitigation. Q. Have you ever heard that word before? Mitigation? A. No. Q. Okay. Did you have any idea that the purpose of the penalty phase was to mitigate what the jury had the jury's verdict? A. Oh, I understand. No. Q. Did he ever explain to you that the jury didn't believe his alibi defense? A. No. Q. And that he now had to present something? That was never explained to you? A. No. Hannon's father testified that there was not even a discussion concerning the innocence defense, and Hannon's wife stated that Hannon's counsel never consulted with any family members about the penalty phase.