Opinion ID: 2508188
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 29

Heading: failure to conduct an adequate background investigation and present adequate mitigating evidence in the penalty phase

Text: ISSUE (10). Whether Petitioner was deprived of effective assistance of counsel when his trial counsel conducted a background investigation and presented mitigating evidence in the penalty phase of the trial. Petitioner's claim that his attorneys were ineffective by not adequately investigating and gathering, and consequently not presenting, adequate mitigating evidence during the penalty phase is without merit. Under the Sixth Amendment, counsel is required to conduct a reasonable investigation. Petitioner's counsel fulfilled this requirement. As a result of trial counsel's exhaustive pretrial investigations, substantial mitigating evidence was presented during the penalty phase of Petitioner's trial, including evidence of Petitioner's troubled childhood, family problems, substance abuse, capacity to serve his jail term errant-free, and psychological makeup. [276] Even assuming defense counsel's background investigation may have been deficient, Petitioner cannot demonstrate he was prejudiced during the penalty phase of his trial because of it. Considering the evidence which established the aggravating circumstances, it is unlikely any additional information about Petitioner's background would have made a difference. [277]