Damas v. State; Damas v. Secretary, Department of Corrections
The Florida Supreme Court affirmed denial of postconviction relief and denied habeas relief for death row inmate Mesac Damas, who claimed he was incompetent throughout his capital proceedings and that trial and appellate counsel were ineffective for failing to expose his incompetency, conduct adequate mitigation investigation, and preserve certain claims. The Court held that a substantive competency claim is procedurally barred if not raised on direct appeal, that counsel's agreement to admit expert competency reports is distinct from stipulating to competency itself, and that a defendant's persistent obstruction and malingering undermines both deficiency and prejudice showings under Strickland.
Key facts
- Mesac Damas, a death row inmate, was convicted in a capital case and sought postconviction relief and habeas relief, claiming he was incompetent throughout his trial and appellate proceedings.
- Damas argued that his trial and appellate counsel were ineffective for failing to expose his incompetency, conduct adequate mitigation investigation, and preserve certain claims.
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Why it matters
While largely an application of well-settled Strickland, Dougherty, and Rule 3.852 doctrine to an extensive capital record, the opinion offers a useful clarification for capital and postconviction practitioners… — full analysis with a trial
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