Opinion ID: 1571490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Strategic Decision to Waive a Penalty-Phase Jury

Text: This claim primarily consists of a recrafted version of Lynch's first guilt-phase ineffectiveness subclaim combined with allegations related to mental-health mitigation, through which Lynch contends that he would not have waived a penalty-phase jury had counsel adequately informed him of the elements of and defenses to the charged offenses along with his diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. However, as previously stated, trial counsel did discuss the elements of and legal defenses to first-degree murder, armed burglary, and kidnapping with Lynch. Competent, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that no valid defenses existed in this case. See analysis in Part II.A.i, supra. Additionally, as explained in later portions of our analysis, Lynch's mild cognitive impairment has not affected his ability to lead an otherwise normal life, he is of average overall intelligence, and he has never connected this impairment to his actions on March 5, 1999, or his decisions with regard to how to best proceed in this case. See analysis in Parts II.B.ii and II.E.ii, infra. Therefore, Lynch's asserted ignorance of hypothetical, unsupported defenses and a comparatively minor mentalhealth diagnosis could not have affected his decision to waive a penalty-phase jury. Moreover, Mr. Figgatt testified that he discussed potential aggravators with Lynch before Lynch pled guilty and waived a penalty-phase jury. Second-chair trial counsel, Mr. Caudill, corroborated this statement. As explained above, trial counsel's less than complete guilt-phase factual proffer did not prejudice Lynch because both he and trial counsel were well aware of the fact that the State possessed the necessary evidence to prove his guilt for each charged offense. See analysis in Part II.A.i, supra. Counsel were justifiably concerned that this case involved a thoroughly planned and executed murder of a former lover and the accompanying murder of her minor daughter. Trial counsel's recommendation was a strategic decision to conduct the penalty phase with the court sitting as the factfinder. In the words of trial counsel, they were presenting this to a judge who wasn't going to be emotional about the fact that there was a death of a child, and the jury was going to be.  (Emphasis supplied.) Lynch has not demonstrated prejudice, and it is unclear how further discussion of hypothetical defenses, which did not exist in this case, and a comparatively minor mental-health diagnosis would have altered his decision to forgo a penalty-phase jury in favor of a potentially less emotional, highly experienced jurist. Accordingly, we deny relief on this subclaim.