Opinion ID: 1156094
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Execution of Mentally Ill Persons

Text: Brannan argues that his execution would be unconstitutional because it is unconstitutional to execute any persons who are severely mentally ill. This claim is barred by procedural default because it was not raised on direct appeal, and, therefore, it can be considered on habeas corpus only if Brannan can satisfy the cause and prejudice test to overcome that bar. Head v. Ferrell, 274 Ga. 399, 401-402(III), 554 S.E.2d 155 (2001); OCGA § 9-14-48(d). The jury in Brannan's case rejected his claim that he committed the murder as a result of severe mental illness by finding him guilty rather than guilty but mentally ill. See OCGA § 17-7-131(b)(1) and (c)(2). As the discussion above demonstrates, Brannan's trial counsel did not render ineffective assistance in their presentation of mental health evidence. Because Brannan has failed to show that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in failing to prove that he was mentally ill at trial, he cannot show cause for his inability to raise a claim based on such a verdict on direct appeal. See Ferrell, 274 Ga. at 402, 554 S.E.2d 155(III) (noting that ineffective assistance of counsel can be used to satisfy the cause portion of the cause and prejudice test where a claim is procedurally defaulted). Furthermore, as an independent, alternative holding, we conclude that, unlike the case of juvenile offenders and mentally retarded persons, there is no consensus discernible in the nation or in Georgia sufficient to show that evolving standards of decency require a constitutional ban, under either the Constitution of the United States or under the Georgia Constitution, on executing all [2] persons with mental illnesses, particularly persons who have shown only the sort of mental health evidence that Brannan has shown. Compare Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 125 S.Ct. 1183, 161 L.Ed.2d 1 (2005) (declaring the execution of juvenile offenders to violate the Constitution of the United States); Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242, 153 L.Ed.2d 335 (2002) (declaring the execution of mentally retarded persons to violate the Constitution of the United States); Fleming v. Zant, 259 Ga. 687, 386 S.E.2d 339 (1989) (declaring the execution of mentally retarded persons to violate the Georgia Constitution). Having found, as an alternative holding, that Brannan's underlying claim is meritless, we conclude that he cannot show prejudice from his trial counsel's failure to raise it on direct appeal. Because Brannan has failed to show cause for his failure to prove at trial and complain on direct appeal that he was guilty but mentally ill and because he has failed to show prejudice stemming from that failure, we hold that his claim that his execution would be unconstitutional based on his alleged severe mental illness is barred by procedural default.