United States Ninth Circuit

Defense attorney's abandonment of an investigation into defendant's familial history and psychiatric background was not a tactical decision, and instead amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel, resulting in the vacatur of defendant's death sentence. (Republished opinion).

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/13/2000
• Decided 02/22/2002
• Published 02/22/2002

Judges

• Before B. FLETCHER, THOMAS, and WARDLAW, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Phillip A. Trevino,Michael J. Brennan, Beverly Hills, CA, for the petitioner-appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Robert M. Foster, Deputy Attorney General, San Diego, CA, for the respondent-appellee.