A. RICHARD CAPUTO, District Judge.
Presently before me is the Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (Doc. 465) filed by Joseph Donahue ("Donahue" or "Petitioner"). Donahue claims that his counsel labored at trial with a serious medical condition that left him "unconscious" and "in a stupor" during a substantial portion of the proceedings. Donahue further contends that his counsel failed to subpoena or call a crucial witness whose testimony would have changed the outcome of his trial. As a result, Donahue asserts that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. Because Donahue fails to satisfy the standard for evaluating ineffective assistance claims set forth by the Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984), his § 2255 motion will be denied.
On January 6, 2010, the Government filed a sixteen-count Second Superseding Indictment against Donahue in this Court. See United States v. Donahue, No. 08-CR-221 (M.D. Pa. Jan. 6, 2010), ECF No. 138.
On January 4, 2011, Donahue failed to appear at the institution designated for the service of his sentence. See id. The United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, thereafter obtained a warrant for Donahue's arrest. See id.
On January 20, 2011, Donahue was arrested by the United States Marshals Service in Las Cruces, New Mexico. See id. Donahue's vehicle was taken to the U.S. Marshals' facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where the car was searched, pictures of the vehicle and its contents were taken, and the contents of the car were inventoried. See id. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, a Glock .40 caliber magazine with an extender was discovered in the automobile. See id. Subsequently, the bags seized from Donahue's vehicle were opened and searched, and a Glock semi-automatic pistol was found. See id.
On July 24, 2012, the Grand Jury returned the First Superseding Indictment against Donahue in this case. (See Doc. 111, generally). Donahue was charged with: (1) knowingly failing to surrender for service of a federal sentence pursuant to a court order in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3146(a)(2) and (b)(1)(A)(i) (Count One); (2) knowingly possessing, in and affecting commerce, a firearm (Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber semi-auto pistol, serial number GTB989) which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) (Count Two); (3) being a fugitive from justice and knowingly possessing, in and affecting commerce, a firearm (Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber semi-auto pistol, serial number GRB989) which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(2) and 924(a)(2) (Count Three); and (4) knowingly possessing a stolen firearm (Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber semiauto pistol, serial number GTB989) which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the firearm was stolen in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j) and 924(a)(2) (Count Four). (See id.). Donahue proceeded to trial on the charges, where a jury convicted him of all counts on September 1, 2015. (See Doc. 378, generally).
Donahue appealed his conviction to the Third Circuit. (See Doc. 422, generally). The Third Circuit affirmed the judgment of conviction. See United States v. Donahue, 681 F. App'x 171, 174 (3d Cir. 2017). The Supreme Court denied Donahue's petition for writ of certiorari. See Donahue v. United States, 138 S.Ct. 128 (2017).
The following month, Donahue filed the instant § 2255 motion and supporting memorandum of law in this Court, wherein he raises two ineffectiveness assistance of counsel claims. (See Doc. 465, generally).
(Id.).
On February 10, 2018, the Government filed its brief in opposition to the § 2255 motion, (see Doc. 471, generally), and Donahue filed a timely reply thereto. (See Doc. 473, generally). Donahue's § 2255 motion is thus fully briefed and ripe for disposition.
"Motions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 are the presumptive means by which federal prisoners can challenge their convictions or sentences that are allegedly in violation of the Constitution." Okereke v. United States, 307 F.3d 117, 120 (3d Cir. 2002). Section 2255 permits a prisoner sentenced by a federal court to move the court that imposed the sentence to "vacate, set aside, or correct the sentence" where: (1) the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States; (2) the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence; (3) the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law; or (4) the sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a).
Section 2255(b) generally entitles a petitioner to a hearing on his motion, "[u]nless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief. . . ." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b); see also Rule 4(b), Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts ("If it plainly appears from the motion, any attached exhibits, and the record of prior proceedings that the moving party is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss the motion and direct the clerk to notify the moving party."). The threshold the petitioner must meet to obtain an evidentiary hearing is considered to be "reasonably low." United States v. Booth, 432 F.3d 542, 546 (3d Cir. 2005). In considering a § 2255 motion, the "district court must `accept the truth of the movant's factual allegations unless they are clearly frivolous on the basis of the existing record.'" Johnson v. United States, 294 F. App'x 709, 710 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Booth, 432 F.3d at 545-46). The district court may, however, dispose of "vague and conclusory allegations" contained in a § 2255 petition without further investigation. Id. at 710 (quoting United States v. Thomas, 221 F.3d 430, 437 (3d Cir. 2000)).
Among other protections, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an accused in a criminal prosecution "to have the assistance of counsel for his defense." U.S. Const. amend. VI. The applicable federal precedent for ineffective assistance claims is the well-settled two-prong test established by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).
To establish he was denied the effective assistance of counsel under Strickland, the movant must show that (1) the performance of trial counsel fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) the performance of counsel unfairly prejudiced the defense. Id. at 687-88, 691, 104 S.Ct. 2052. "Both Strickland prongs must be satisfied." George v. Sively, 254 F.3d 438, 443 (3d Cir. 2001) (citing United States v. Nino, 878 F.2d 101, 104 (3d Cir. 1989)).
The first Strickland prong requires a defendant to "establish . . . that counsel's performance was deficient." Jermyn v. Horn, 266 F.3d 257, 282 (3d Cir. 2001). Proving a deficiency in conduct "`requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed defendant by the Sixth Amendment.'" Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052). "In assessing counsel's performance, `every effort [must] be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time.'" Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052).
"Because of the difficulties inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is to say, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052. The benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness of counsel is "whether counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just result." Id.
The second prong of Strickland requires a defendant to show that counsel's performance unfairly prejudiced the defendant, meaning that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a trial whose result is reliable. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. It is not enough to show that the error had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding, for virtually every act or omission would meet such a test. Id. at 693, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Rather, the defendant must show there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional error, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reasonable probability is sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial. Id. The Third Circuit has stated that the "Strickland prejudice standard is not `stringent'— it is, in fact, `less demanding than the preponderance standard.'" Williams v. Beard, 637 F.3d 195, 227 (3d Cir. 2011) (quoting Jermyn, 266 F.3d at 282).
As stated, two claims are raised in the § 2255 motion. First, Donahue asserts that he was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel because his counsel was suffering with a serious medical condition that caused him to be unaware or "unconscious" during times at trial. Second, Donahue argues that his counsel was ineffective by failing to subpoena or call a crucial trial witness. I will address these arguments in turn.
Donahue first argues that he was deprived of his right to counsel because his counsel suffered with a condition that resulted in him being in a "medically caused stupor" during periods of time at trial. (See Doc. 465, 2-6). According to Donahue, "[a]t numerous points during the ongoing trial[,] counsel was clearly not cognizant or aware of the proceedings, failing to note, observe or take into account testimony while being in a state of obliviousness . . . ." (See id. at 2). In his reply, Donahue acknowledges that "[t]hroughout most of the trial defense counsel was a staunch advocate who had confidence in the righteousness of the defense." (Doc. 465, 2). Donahue further explains that during periods of trial where his counsel was "on his feet and moving about . . . [he] was effective and obviously cognizant." (Id.) But, "drawn out direct examinations of the government witnesses, while seated and inactive," resulted in his counsel's "lack of conscious awareness of what was going on in court." (Id.).
In Cronic, the Supreme Court held that a violation of the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment may be found without a showing of prejudice where "circumstances [exist] that are so likely to prejudice the accused that the cost of litigating their effect in a particular case is unjustified." Id. at 658, 104 S.Ct. 2039. Such circumstances include "the complete denial of counsel. The presumption that counsel's assistance is essential requires us to conclude that a trial is unfair if the accused is denied counsel at a critical stage of his trial." Id. at 659, 104 S.Ct. 2039. Likewise, "if counsel entirely fails to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing, then there has been a denial of Sixth Amendment rights that makes the adversary process itself presumptively unreliable." Id.; accord United States v. Toliver, 330 F.3d 607, 613 (3d Cir. 2003) ("if counsel is denied at a critical stage of trial, it is prejudice per se, mandating automatic reversal.").
Donahue likens this case to the Ninth Circuit's decision in Javor v. United States, 724 F.2d 831 (9th Cir. 1984). There, the Ninth Circuit held that "when an attorney for a criminal defendant sleeps through a substantial portion of the trial, such conduct is inherently prejudicial and thus no separate showing of prejudice is necessary." Id. at 833 (citations omitted). The Javor court found prejudice "inherent" there "because unconscious or sleeping counsel is equivalent to no counsel at all. The mere physical presence of an attorney does not fulfill the sixth amendment entitlement to the assistance of counsel." Id. 834 ("When a defendant's attorney is asleep during a substantial portion of his trial, the defendant has not received the legal assistance necessary to defend his interests at trial.").
Building on the Javor line of sleeping counsel cases, Donahue insists that prejudice should be presumed when, as in this case, counsel is in a "medically caused stupor[.]" (Doc. 465, 5). This is so, says Donahue, because any inquiry into prejudice would require "unguided speculation" because "an attorney's absence prejudices a defendant more by what was not done than by what was done." (Id.).
These cases do no help to Donahue because prejudice is not presumed on ineffectiveness claims based on counsel's physical or mental health. Indeed, courts have held that the Strickland standard "applies to claims based on the illness or incapacity of counsel during trial . . . ." United States v. Eyman, 313 F.3d 741, 743 (2d Cir. 2002) (per curiam) (citing Bellamy v. Cogdell, 974 F.2d 302, 308 (en banc) (2d Cir. 1992); Johnson v. Norris, 207 F.3d 515, 518 (8th Cir. 2000)); see also United States v. Henges, 591 F. App'x 287, 287 (5th Cir. 2015) (ineffective assistance claim based on counsel's health problems and medication required a showing of actual prejudice); Dows v. Wood, 211 F.3d 480, 485 (9th Cir. 2000) ("The mere fact that counsel may have suffered from a mental illness at the time of trial, however, has never been recognized by the Supreme Court as grounds to automatically presume prejudice."); Johnson, 207 F.3d at 518 (rejecting application of Javor for ineffective assistance claims based on attorney's mental illness); Bellamy, 974 F.2d at 308 ("given the varying effects health problems can have on an individual's ability to function, claims of ineffective assistance based on attorney illness are best suited to the fact-specific prejudice inquiry mandated by Strickland."); Smith v. Ylst, 826 F.2d 872, 876-77 (9th Cir. 1987) (rejecting ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on counsel's mental incapacity in the absence of prejudice); United States v. Gallion, No. 07-39, 2014 WL 2218361, at *4-5 (E.D. Ky. May 27, 2014) (rejecting argument that presumption of prejudice should apply on ineffective claim based on counsel's health condition); Crimi v. United States, No. 07-1858, 2008 WL 2949518, at *2 (M.D. Fla. July 28, 2008) ("Courts have held that a defendant claiming his counsel rendered ineffective assistance due to a mental or physical illness, must point to specific errors or omissions which prejudiced his defense."). Thus, "[i]n order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance based on counsel's illness, `a defendant must point to specific errors or omissions in his courtroom behavior and conduct at trial that were a product of the attorney's illness.'" Samet v. United States, 559 F. App'x 47, 50 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Eyman, 313 F.3d at 743); see also Dawson v. United States, No. 11-2953, 2013 WL 3746010, at *4 (D.N.J. July 15, 2013) (finding the petitioner failed to identify any explicit errors or deficiencies in counsel's performance relating to claim that counsel's cancer diagnosis deprived him of his right to effective counsel).
Given this, prejudice is not presumed on an ineffective assistance claim based on counsel's physical illness at trial. Rather, Strickland's two prong standard requiring deficient performance and prejudice governs Donahue's claim, and he must point to specific errors or omissions which prejudiced his defense.
Donahue is unable to satisfy either prong of Strickland. First, Donahue has not cited to any instances in the record where his counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Contrary to Donahue's claim that his counsel was "unconscious" at points during the trial, the record is clear that his counsel was alert and attentive during the entirety of the proceedings. Donahue's counsel subjected the Government's case to meaningful adversarial testing, including conducting appropriate cross-examinations of the Government's witnesses. In addition, counsel called numerous witnesses in support of Donahue's defense. And based on my personal knowledge of counsel's performance as having been the presiding judge at trial, I note that counsel was actively engaged in the proceedings at all times. Simply put, Donahue cannot show constitutionally deficient performance under Strickland.
Donahue also fails to demonstrate prejudice as required by Strickland. More particularly, Donahue has not established that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Again, Donahue fails to point to any errors or omissions by his counsel, and he is likewise unable to identify how his counsel's unidentified errors would have produced a different outcome at trial, particularly in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt that was presented against him at trial. See Buehl v. Vaughn, 166 F.3d 163, 172 (3d Cir.1999) ("It is firmly established that a court must consider the strength of the evidence in deciding whether the Strickland prejudice prong has been satisfied."). Donahue's first ground for habeas relief fails.
The second and final basis for habeas relief raised by Donahue is his counsel's failure and/or refusal to subpoena or call Judge Munley as a trial witness. (See Doc. 465, 7-24). According to Donahue, had Judge Munley been called as a witness
(Doc. 473, 10).
Donahue is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim. Counsel attempted to call Judge Munley as a witness at trial. The trial record reflects this:
(Doc. 402, 15:16-16:16).
Moreover, Donahue cannot demonstrate either deficient performance or prejudice under Strickland based on his counsel's decision not to subpoena Judge Munley. "The decision not to call a witness is a `virtually unchallengeable' decision of trial strategy." United States v. Staples, 410 F.3d 484, 488 (8th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted); see also United States v. Williams, 106 F.3d 1362, 1367 (7th Cir. 1997) ("[a] lawyer's decision to call or not to call a witness is a strategic decision generally not subject to review. The Constitution does not oblige counsel to present each and every witness that is suggested to him."); United States v. Chapman, 593 F.3d 365, 369 (4th Cir. 2010) ("which witnesses to call is a classic tactical decision left to counsel," and "it remains a decision for counsel even when the client disagrees."). "Where a petitioner challenges counsel's decisions as to which witnesses to call at trial, courts are required not simply to give the attorney the benefit of the doubt, but to affirmatively entertain the range of possible reasons that the petitioner's counsel may have had for proceeding as he did." Mir v. United States, No. 14-3627, 2017 WL 498713, at *7 (D.N.J. Feb. 7, 2017) (citing Branch v. Sweeney, 758 F.3d 226, 235 (3d Cir. 2014)); Moore v. Beard, 42 F.Supp.3d 624 (M.D. Pa. 2014) ("Ineffective assistance of counsel claims grounded in an alleged failure to call an important, exculpatory witness demand an additional layer of deference to trial counsel's strategy.")
Donahue insists that the decision not to subpoena Judge Munley was based on his counsel's personal relationship with him rather than for a reason with the best interests of Donahue's defense in mind. But, as I explained at trial, Judge Munley's testimony lacked probative value. (See Doc. 402, 15:16-16:16). Counsel cannot be found to have performed deficiently for failing to present a witness that would not have offered any probative testimony.
Further, even if his counsel erred by not issuing a subpoena to Judge Munley, Donahue cannot demonstrate that he suffered prejudice as a result. As stated, the strength of the Government's case is relevant to resolving Strickland's prejudice inquiry. See Buehl, 166 F.3d at 172. Unless the strength of the case is considered a "court simply cannot" "determine whether there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result of the trial would have been different." Id. (citations omitted). As such, "a verdict or conclusion only weakly supported by the record is more likely to have been affected by errors than one with overwhelming record support." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 696, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
Here, the evidence against Donahue was significant. Donahue failed to surrender for service of his sentence on the underlying criminal conviction. As to the other charged offenses, the firearm forming the basis of those crimes was taken from a ski resort in Pennsylvania at the same time Donahue was their with his daughters less than a week before he failed to surrender for service of his federal sentence. See Donahue, 681 F. App'x at 174; (see also Doc. 394, 12:11-15:14). Any testimony from Judge Munley would not have altered these salient facts, nor would it have negated the overwhelming evidence of Donahue's guilt. See, e.g., United States v. Moore, 104 F.3d 377, 391 (D.C. Cir. 1997) (no ineffectiveness in failing to subpoena a witness whose testimony was "tangential at best"). Because the outcome of Donahue's trial would not have been different had Judge Munley been subpoenaed, he is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim for this reason as well.
For the above stated reasons, Donahue was not denied the effective assistance of counsel. Donahue's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence will thus be denied. Further, in proceedings brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, an applicant cannot appeal to the circuit court unless a certificate of appealability has been issued. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), a court may not issue a certificate of appealability unless "the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." Restated, a certificate of appealability should not be issued unless "reasonable jurists would find the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L. Ed. 2d 542 (2000). As reasonable jurists would not disagree with the resolution of the instant § 2255 motion, a certificate of appealability will not issue.
An appropriate order follows.
