Jefferson v. Upton

560 U.S. 284, 130 S. Ct. 2217, 176 L. Ed. 2d 1032, 2010 U.S. LEXIS 4168
CourtSupreme Court of the United States
DecidedMay 24, 2010
Docket09-8852
StatusPublished
Cited by194 cases

This text of 560 U.S. 284 (Jefferson v. Upton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of the United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jefferson v. Upton, 560 U.S. 284, 130 S. Ct. 2217, 176 L. Ed. 2d 1032, 2010 U.S. LEXIS 4168 (2010).

Opinions

Per Curiam.

Petitioner Lawrence Jefferson, who has been sentenced to death, claimed in both state and federal courts that his law[285]*285yers were constitutionally inadequate because they failed to investigate a traumatic head injury that he suffered as a child. The state court rejected that claim after making a finding that the attorneys were'advised by an expert that such investigation was unnecessary. Under the governing federal statute, that factual finding is presumed correct unless any one of eight exceptions applies. See 28 U. S. C. §§2254(d)(l)-(8) (1994 ed.). But the Court of Appeals considered only one of those exceptions (specifically § 2254(d)(8)). And on that basis, it considered itself “duty-bound” to accept the state court’s finding, and rejected Jefferson’s claim. Because the Court of Appeals did not fully consider several remaining potentially applicable exceptions, we vacate its judgment and remand.

I

When Jefferson was a child, he “suffered a serious injury to his head.” Jefferson v. Terry, 490 P. Supp. 2d 1261, 1326 (ND Ga. 2007); see id., at 1320 (quoting Jefferson’s mother’s testimony that “a car ran over the top of his head” when he was two years old). The accident left his skull swollen and misshapen and his forehead visibly scarred. Jefferson v. Hall, 570 F. 3d 1283, 1311, 1315, n. 4 (CA11 2009) (Carnes, J., dissenting). During the District Court proceedings below, uncontroverted experts testified that, as a result of his head injury, Jefferson has “permanent brain damage” that “causes abnormal behavior” over which he “has no or substantially limited control.” 490 F. Supp. 2d, at 1321-1322. According to these experts, Jefferson’s condition causes “‘emotional dullness,’” “‘restless or aggressive characteristics,’” “‘impulsiveness,’” “‘temper outbursts,’” “‘markedly diminished impulse control,’ ” “‘impaired social judgment,’” and “‘transient outbursts of rage which are totally inconsistent with his normal behavioral pattern.’ ” Id., at 1322, 1327.

The experts further testified that Jefferson’s “ ‘severe cognitive disabilities’ ” “ ‘profoundly alter’ ” his “ ‘ability to plan and coordinate his actions, to be aware of the consequences [286]*286of his behavior, and to engage in premeditated or intentional acts.’” Id., at 1327. But they testified he is neither psychotic nor retarded. Id., at 1319. Thus, they said, to a lay observer or even to a professional psychologist, Jefferson does not outwardly appear mentally impaired. Indeed, according to the experts, “ ‘the behavior that may result from’ ” his condition “‘could, without the administration of proper testing, be mistaken for volitional.’” Id., at 1322.

Jefferson faced a death sentence for killing his co-worker while the two men were fishing. Id., at 1271-1272. Prior to trial, he was examined by a psychologist named Dr. Gary Dudley, who prepared a formal report in which he concluded that Jefferson’s mental deficiencies do not impair “ ‘his judgment or decision-making capacity.’” 570 F. 3d, at 1294 (quoting report). But Dr. Dudley’s report included a caveat: “ ‘One possibility that could not be explored because of [Jefferson’s] incarceration has to do with the sequelae,’ ” i. e., pathologies, related to a “‘head injury experienced during childhood.’ ” Ibid. “ ‘In my opinion,’ ” he wrote, “ ‘it would be worthwhile to conduct neuropsychological evaluation of this individual to rule out an organic etiology,’ ” i. e., to rule out brain damage. Ibid.

Although “it is undisputed that the testing” Dr. Dudley recommended “could have easily been performed,” 490 F. Supp. 2d, at 1322, and that Jefferson’s attorneys possessed police reports and hospital records recounting his head injury, id., at 1323, the attorneys did not have Jefferson tested. At sentencing, they presented only testimony from two prison guards, who stated that Jefferson was an unproblematic inmate, and from three members of Jefferson’s family, who testified that he is a “responsible, generous, gentle, and kind” person and “a good father.” 570 F. 3d, at 1290-1291. And while Jefferson’s mother briefly mentioned the car accident, “she was not questioned and did not offer any testimony regarding the impact, if any, that the accident had on him.” Id., at 1291. Thus, “[a]s far as the jury knew, Jeffer[287]*287son did not suffer from brain damage or neurological impairment; he had no organic disorders”; and “his emotional stability, impulse control, and judgment were perfectly normal.” Id., at 1311 (Carnes, J., dissenting).

Jefferson sought habeas relief in state court, arguing that his two trial attorneys unreasonably failed to pursue brain-damage testing. In response, the trial attorneys testified that they did not pursue such testing because, after delivering his formal written report, Dr. Dudley later told them that further investigation “ ‘may be a waste of time because the rest of [his] report’ ” had “ ‘said that [Jefferson] was non psychotic.’” Id., at 1295 (quoting testimony). Dr. Dudley did not testify in person at the hearing, but he submitted a sworn affidavit denying that he had ever made such statements. He said “it had always been his expert opinion ‘that neuropsychological testing was necessary”’ and that when he wrote as much in his formal report “he ‘meant it.’” Id., at 1312 (Carnes, J., dissenting) (quoting affidavit). He added, “ ‘I never, before or after that report, suggested to [Jefferson’s attorneys] that such an evaluation was not necessary or that it would not be worthwhile.’ ” Ibid.; cf. Pet. for Cert. 17, n. 12.

Jefferson contends, and the State has not disputed, that after the hearing concluded the state-court judge contacted the attorneys for the State ex parte. And in a private conversation that included neither Jefferson nor his attorneys, the judge asked the State’s attorneys to draft the opinion of the court. See id., at 3, 12. According to Jefferson, no such request was made of him, nor was he informed of the request made to opposing counsel. Id., at 12, n. 8, 13; see also Jefferson v. Zant, 263 Ga. 316, 431 S. E. 2d 110, 111 (1993) (“Jefferson contends [the order] amounts to no more and no less than a reply brief to which [he] has not had a chance to respond”).

The attorneys for the State prepared an opinion finding that “Dr. Dudley led [Jefferson’s trial attorneys] to believe that further investigation would simply be a waste of time [288]*288because Petitioner [i]s not psychotic.” Jefferson v. Zant, Civ. Action No. 87-V-1241 (Super. Ct. Butts Cty., Ga., Oct. 7, 1992), p. 16, App. 4 to Pet. for Cert. 16 (hereinafter State Order); see also id., at 37. The opinion “specifically credits the testimony of [the trial attorneys] with regard to their efforts to investigate Petitioner’s mental condition.” Id., at 18; see also id., at 36. And relying on these findings, it concludes that Jefferson’s attorneys “made a reasonable investigation into [his] mental health” and were thus not ineffective. Id., at 37.

Notably, as the Georgia Supreme Court acknowledged, the State’s opinion discusses statements purportedly made on Jefferson’s behalf by a witness “who did not testify” or participate in the proceedings. 263 Ga., at 318, 431 S. E. 2d, at 112; see State Order 24-25.

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Bluebook (online)
560 U.S. 284, 130 S. Ct. 2217, 176 L. Ed. 2d 1032, 2010 U.S. LEXIS 4168, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jefferson-v-upton-scotus-2010.