Porter v. McCollum
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Summary

The Supreme Court held that counsel’s failure to investigate and present evidence of combat trauma, PTSD, abusive childhood, and brain impairment prejudiced the defense because it could have altered the jury’s sentencing decision.

2009 | Federal Juristiction

Porter v. McCollum

Keywords PTSD; combat trauma; abusive childhood; brain impairment; prejudiced
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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a lawyer's inability to look into and show proof of combat trauma, PTSD, a difficult childhood, and brain damage harmed the defense. This is because such evidence might have changed the jury's choice about sentencing.

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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a defense attorney's inability to investigate and present evidence of combat trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a difficult childhood, and brain damage negatively affected the defense. This information could have changed the jury's decision regarding sentencing.

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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a defense lawyer's failure to look into and present evidence about combat trauma, PTSD, a difficult childhood, and brain damage harmed the defense. This is because such evidence could have changed how the jury decided on the sentence.

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Summary

The Supreme Court decided that a lawyer did not do a good enough job. The lawyer did not look into or show proof about the client's wartime problems, mental health issues, bad childhood, or brain damage. This failure hurt the defense because it might have changed what the jury decided about the punishment.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

Porter v. McCollum, 558 U.S. 30 (2009)

Highlights