Court Opinion

ID: 9493239
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 15:01:46.27136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:55:43.527115
License: Public Domain

WILSON, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
We held in Tarver v. Hopper, 169 F.3d 710, 715 (11th Cir.1999), that the creation of lingering doubt can be an effective strategy for avoiding the death penalty. But the choice to use this strategy must be made by defendant’s counsel.1
It is evident from the record that Chandler’s counsel made no strategic decision to use a “lingering” or “residual” doubt defense on Chandler’s behalf. Not even the government suggested that he did so until after the dissent from the panel opinion in this case.2 The majority opinion retroactively credits Chandler’s lawyer with making a strategic decision that is not indicated by the record. As a result, today’s decision virtually forecloses any future Strickland claim of ineffective assistance during the penalty phase of a capital proceeding. Because I believe the majority opinion extends Tarver v. Hopper too far, I respectfully dissent.

. See Chandler v. United States, 193 F.3d 1297, 1311 (11th Cir.1999) (Edmondson, J., dissenting), vacated, No. 97-6365 (11th Cir. Dec. 3, 1999).