United States v. Barrett, No. 19-7049 (10th Cir. 2021)
Annotate this CaseKenneth Eugene Barrett moved under 28 U.S.C. 2255 to vacate his death sentence based on ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. Barrett’s death sentence was based on his intentionally killing a state trooper when drug task force officers attempted to execute a warrant at his home. The evidence at trial and at the sentencing hearing depicted him as having planned a lethal attack on police officers. In mitigation, defense counsel introduced testimony that he was a loved family member and good person who was sorry for his crime. But his counsel did not introduce evidence that he experienced abuse as a child; suffered from brain-damage, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”); and struggled to exercise judgment in pressured situations. The jury recommended, and the court imposed, the death penalty. The district court denied Barrett's request to vacate his sentence. The matter was remanded for reconsideration of counsel's performance at sentencing; the district court found deficient performance but no prejudice, and again denied relief. The Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded for further proceedings. In reversing, the Court concluded that, viewing the totality of the evidence at trial, sentencing, and the postconviction hearing, there was a reasonable probability at least one juror would have recommended a life sentence. As noted, “[a] reasonable probability is less than a preponderance of the evidence” and need only “undermine confidence in the outcome.” Because Barrett’s postconviction evidence shifted the balance in favor of mitigation, the Tenth Circuit was not “confiden[t]” all twelve jurors would have recommended a death sentence had defense counsel introduced this evidence.
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