Opinion ID: 799074
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Counsel's failure to personally attend key depositions

Text: The Florida Supreme Court found that counsel was deficient for failing to personally attend numerous critical depositions. Stephens II, 975 So.2d at 418. However, Florida Supreme Court concluded that Stephens could not show prejudice because he failed to demonstrate that, but for counsel's failure to attend these depositions, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different. Id. This conclusion is not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. The Florida Supreme Court explained that the depositions were attended by co-defendant's counsel. Although we do not countenance the failure to personally attend important depositions, Stephens did not demonstrate before the Florida Supreme Court and does not demonstrate here how he was prejudiced by this failure.