Carter v. Georgia

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Cameron Carter was convicted by jury of malice murder of Ashey Garry and other offenses. Carter claims on appeal that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Specifically, Carter argued that, although his trial counsel raised objections to the admission of what he characterized as three juvenile court disposition orders, she “failed to object as to the specific form and content of the dispositions,” thereby allowing the jury improper access to the details of Carter’s sentencing. Carter contended his counsel was deficient because the sentencing information in the three exhibits was not admissible, and he was prejudiced because, as to Exhibit 64, the disposition order showed that the juvenile court determined that he should be detained “to protect the person or property of other[s] or the child,” and Exhibits 68 and 70 showed that he was sentenced to serve significant time on probation and had been ordered to pay numerous fines. The Georgia Supreme Court found that Carter could not carry his burden of showing "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. . . . Although circumstantial, the evidence of Carter’s guilt was strong." Therefore, the Supreme Court concluded the trial court did not err in denying his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. View "Carter v. Georgia" on Justia Law