Opinion ID: 1882598
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ineffective Assistance of Defense Counsel During Guilt Phase

Text: Suggs claims that his trial attorneys, Donald Stewart and Robert Kimmel, were ineffective. In order to prove ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must demonstrate both that counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficiency caused prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). To be deficient, the performance must fall below an objective standard of reasonableness based on prevailing professional norms. Id. at 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reviewing court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 688-89, 104 S.Ct. 2052. In order to constitute reversible error, the standard requires the defendant to show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reasonable probability is defined as a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for waiving his right to a Richardson hearing after the State committed a discovery violation by failing to notify the defense before the trial that Judge Lewis R. Lindsey would be called as a witness. The prosecution used the testimony of Judge Lindsey in order to bolster the credibility of Wallace Byars, one of the two cellmates who testified against Suggs. About four months before trial, while on medical release from the Walton County Jail, where he had been serving a three-year sentence, Byars was arrested after a confrontation with his wife. Judge Lindsey's testimony explained that he was the one who authorized the medical release. Suggs claimed on direct appeal that the trial court erred in not conducting a Richardson hearing. This Court denied relief because it found that defense counsel had waived the request for a Richardson hearing by admitting that such a hearing would not cure the damage caused by the admission of Judge Lindsey's testimony. Suggs reasserts this claim by converting it into an ineffective assistance claim in this postconviction appeal. The postconviction court denied the claim and found that based on testimony by counsel at the evidentiary hearing, defense counsel made a tactical decision to move past the issue without needless delay. The court also found that counsel had the opportunity to adequately prepare for the judge's testimony, negating whatever harm was caused by the prosecution's neglect in notifying the defense of its witness. We find no error in the postconviction court's finding that counsel's performance was neither deficient nor prejudicial and therefore affirm the denial of relief.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to insist on a mistrial during the medical examiner's testimony after two jurors became ill. The postconviction court denied this claim because it found that defense counsel adopted a reasonable tactic to confront and accept the brutal nature of the crime, while arguing that someone else was responsible for such brutality. Defense attorney Kimmel testified at the evidentiary hearing that he believed allowing a jury to react sensitively to the brutality of the crime was in furtherance of this tactic and that such a jury might show the defendant mercy. Suggs argues that this kind of tactic is patently unreasonable. This Court, however, has approved similar tactics. See, e.g., Engle v. Dugger, 576 So.2d 696, 700 (Fla.1991) (rejecting claim that counsel was ineffective for adopting tactic of not questioning the medical examiner's conclusions so as not to inflame the jury, given the gruesome nature of the testimony). We find no error in the postconviction court's finding that this was a reasonable strategy.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to address why the victim's fingerprints were found in his vehicle. Suggs argues that his counsel should have called witnesses who would have testified that the victim was a friend of Suggs and that the victim and Suggs played pool together at the Hitching Post earlier on the day of the murder. In particular, Suggs points to the pretrial depositions of two individuals and the police statements of four other individuals. According to Suggs, if defense counsel had called such witnesses, the jury would have had reason to believe that the victim was in Suggs' vehicle of her own accord. The postconviction court found that Suggs offered no evidence of an alternative explanation for the fingerprints and that Suggs therefore failed to establish a facially sufficient claim pursuant to Strickland. Suggs did not produce any of the witnesses at the evidentiary hearing who allegedly saw Suggs and the victim playing pool together. Suggs also refers to the content of police reports, but such reports were never admitted into evidence. Thus, Suggs offered no evidence in support of his argument. Moreover, at the evidentiary hearing, defense attorney Kimmel testified that an investigation was attempted on this matter but that no evidence was found to prove that the fingerprints were in the car for a legitimate reason. We therefore do not find error in the postconviction court's finding that trial counsel was not ineffective.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel failed to investigate the fabricated testimony of Steve Casey and Ray Hamilton. Casey testified that he was at home trying to sell his truck on the night his wife was murdered. Although he could not remember exactly how much money he received in exchange for the truck, he testified that he sold it for something like twelve or fifteen hundred dollars. Ray Hamilton corroborated this alibi by testifying that Casey informed him that he had sold the truck when the two spoke on the phone on the evening of the murder. Suggs argues that if his counsel had investigated, they would have found evidence that contradicted Casey's alibi. However, defense attorney Stewart testified that prior to trial, defense counsel in fact conducted an investigation into the sale of the vehicle. According to Stewart, trial counsel checked public records for evidence of the sale, but the search did not produce any results. Stewart testified that after the trial, he received a phone call from the daughter of the man who purchased the truck. An investigator hired by Stewart had contacted the daughter, and she returned Stewart's call after the trial. Stewart testified that the woman told him that the car was sold on the day before the murder, not the day of the murder, as Casey and Hamilton claimed. Suggs alleges in his brief that the woman also told Stewart that the car was purchased for only three hundred dollars, far less than the estimated amount Casey gave during his testimony. However, Stewart's testimony at the evidentiary hearing did not address the sale price of the truck, and there is no other record evidence of this woman discussing the price of the truck with Stewart. We also note that the woman was not a witness at the postconviction evidentiary hearing. The postconviction court found that trial counsel was not deficient in conducting the investigation and noted that the information concerning the sale of the truck was not discovered until after trial. The record supports this finding, and we affirm the postconviction court's denial of relief. Even if we were to assume a deficiency in failing to investigate this matter further, we find no basis in the record that establishes prejudice in support of Suggs' claim for relief. Moreover, defense counsel challenged the credibility of Casey and Hamilton at trial, including proving that following the murder, Casey had quickly sought payment on a life insurance policy that he had on his wife. We therefore find no error in the postconviction court's conclusion that Suggs failed to show either a deficiency or prejudice.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to respond to the jury's request to have the testimony of Steve Casey and Ray Hamilton read back. When it was discovered that the transcript could not be obtained for three hours, the judge gave the jury the option of withdrawing or renewing its request. The jury decided to withdraw its request. After an extended colloquy and a brief adjournment to research the legal issue, defense counsel informed the court that Florida law gives the court ultimate discretion in determining whether to have the testimony read back. The court decided in its discretion not to have the testimony read to the jury in light of the jury's withdrawal of its request. Suggs argues that defense counsel's statement to the court concerning Florida law was an unwarranted concession on this issue. Suggs claims that competent counsel would have insisted that the jury hear the testimony regardless of the jury's preference. The postconviction court found that defense counsel sufficiently expressed to the court their position that the testimony should be read back. The court further found that Suggs failed to establish that any prejudice resulted. Defense counsel testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing concerning the extensive discussion about this issue at trial. Defense attorney Stewart testified that it was his opinion that the original request to have the testimony read back reflected that the jury was on the defense's side on the issue of the credibility of Casey and Hamilton. Stewart testified that he was unsure if the jury hearing the testimony again would prove beneficial. Defense attorney Kimmel testified that he made a record of the fact that the request was being denied but noted that it is not his practice to make a judge reject requests multiple times before moving on. We find no error in the postconviction court's conclusion that defense counsel was not ineffective in responding to the jury's request for the read-back of the testimony. We also find support for the postconviction court's conclusion that Suggs did not establish prejudice.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately challenge the prosecutor's deployment of the following tactics: (1) using a golden rule argument; [8] (2) stating that the victim was a missing witness; [9] (3) commenting on Suggs' Fifth Amendment rights; [10] (4) making derisive statements about the defense attorneys; [11] and (5) making similar derisive statements about defense experts. [12] The postconviction court, relying on Ferguson v. State, 593 So.2d 508 (Fla. 1992), held that counsel adopted a reasonable strategy not to object to the prosecutor's comments. In Ferguson, this Court held that the choice not to object to a prosecutor's closing statements can be a tactical decision despite the fact that some of the comments were indeed objectionable. Ferguson, 593 So.2d at 511. As long as the prosecutor did not dwell upon the comments and they were not severely inflammatory or damaging, defense counsel remains effective. Id. Defense attorney Kimmel admitted at the evidentiary hearing that, in hindsight, maybe he should have made some objections but that his focus at the time was on maintaining a rapport with the jury and letting the prosecutor hurt himself. Defense attorney Stewart testified that defense counsel decided not to object because the prosecution was raising issues that the defense wanted the State to address and thereby was tacitly acknowledging the defense's arguments on those issues. We find that the postconviction court did not err in finding no deficiency in defense counsel's performance. The postconviction court's order is also supported by this Court's holding on direct appeal, which, in addition to dismissing as procedurally barred the substantive claim that the prosecutor's statements deprived him of a fair trial, went on to find that Suggs' substantive claim was without merit. The postconviction court's denial of this claim is therefore affirmed.
Suggs claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for not insisting on a mistrial when the prosecutor made a statement suggesting that Suggs had previously been in jail. After defense counsel objected to this statement and requested a mistrial, the court found that the prosecutor made no misrepresentation but that it was a close call as to whether the statement would lead a reasonable person to conclude that Suggs had been in jail. The defense and the State thereafter reached an agreement that the prosecutor would read a curative statement to the jury. A substantive claim concerning whether the curative statement was enough to dispel juror misapprehension was raised and rejected on direct appeal. Suggs, 644 So.2d at 68. Suggs now raises a derivative ineffective assistance claim, arguing that, as a matter of law, nothing could cure the prejudicial impact of such a statement and that defense counsel should have insisted on a mistrial. However, since we found on direct appeal that the prosecutor's curative statement was sufficient to remove any impression created in the minds of the jurors that Suggs may have served time in prison, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to insist on further relief, and Suggs could not have been prejudiced by counsel not insisting on a mistrial. Id. The postconviction court therefore properly denied relief. Suggs further claims that the effect of the prosecutor's statement was exacerbated by the large police presence in the courtroom and the leg weight worn by Suggs throughout the proceedings. Suggs argues that this gave the jury a prejudicial impression that he was dangerous. However, Suggs presented no evidence at the evidentiary hearing to support his allegation that the jury actually observed and was affected by these security measures. We therefore affirm the postconviction court's denial of relief on this claim.
Suggs argues that if not individually, the effect of counsel's guilt-phase errors cumulatively deprived him of his right to a fair trial. Because he failed to prove a deficiency in any one of the above alleged instances of ineffective assistance of counsel, Suggs' cumulative claim of prejudicial error also fails. Bryan v. State, 748 So.2d 1003, 1008 (Fla.1999) ([W]here allegations of individual error are found without merit, a cumulative-error argument based thereon must also fall.). The postconviction court therefore properly denied this claim.