Opinion ID: 1649620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: Failure to investigate number of size 12 Fila shoes sold in Mississippi.

Text: ¶ 26. Brown makes the claim that trial counsel's performance was deficient because they failed to subpoena records indicating the volume of size 12 Fila shoes in order to rebut the inference that he left the bloody footprints at the crime scene. The assertion is speculative and is unsupported by argument or citation to legal authority. Our cases uniformly command that counsel's effectiveness may not be assessed through the finely ground lenses of 20/20 hindsight-and this command is especially compelling in reviewing claims of ineffective assistance that are grounded in allegations of inadequate investigation and preparation. Washington v. Watkins, 655 F.2d 1346, 1356 (5th Cir.1981). This issue is without merit.