Opinion ID: 1788387
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Nannie Craft

Text: ¶ 39. Jordan first claims that defense counsel should have prepared his mother, Nannie Craft, to testify about various childhood illnesses and injuries he claims he suffered. Jordan argues that his mother should have testified about his delayed development as a child, that he had attended special education classes, and that he had grown up in poverty. Defense counsel attempted to go into Jordan's early childhood medical and developmental history; however, the trial court ruled that unless these medical problems continued to affect him throughout his adult life, they were not relevant. Therefore, the record shows that counsel was aware of the early childhood illness, but he was not allowed to address these areas with Craft due to relevance. Further, Jordan submits no school or medical records or any other documentation supporting these claims; therefore, we have no way of ascertaining the relevance of any alleged childhood illnesses or problems. ¶ 40. Jordan also maintains that his attorneys should have clarified questions about Jordan's juvenile records. Jordan's mother was cross-examined about whether Jordan had ever appeared in youth court. Craft testified that Jordan had been involved in youth court proceedings on approximately three occasions, but she claimed that Frontrell Edwards and Jordan's brother, Michael, were the ones responsible for Jordan's delinquent behavior. In a speaking objection, Jordan's attorney attempted to explain that we don't have anything to show that there was ever any adjudication of delinquency, no order entering anything. All we are talking about are charges against someone. Counsel also explained in his closing argument that Jordan's mother had testified, as to the youth court matters, that none of that was Kelvin's fault according to her, not one bit of that. All of those things that he had gotten in trouble about through the years, none of it was his fault; it was always someone else's. Any confusion about Craft's youth court testimony was clarified by counsel. ¶ 41. Jordan's petition has not demonstrated deficient performance on the part of counsel, nor has the petition shown any prejudice suffered by Jordan. Because Jordan has failed to meet the requirements of the Strickland test, he is entitled to no relief as to this issue, which we find to be without merit.