Ainsworth v. Woodford

FOR PUBLICATION Argued and Submitted July 12, 2001--Pasadena, California Opinion by Judge Hug; Dissent by Judge Graber OPINION Jeanne Woodford, Acting Warden of San Quentin State Prison (the ""State""), appeals the district court's order granting California state prisoner Steven Ainsworth's 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition vacating Ainsworth's capital sentence. The district court granted relief on Ainsworth's claim that defense counsel was ineffective for failure to investigate and present mitigation evidence at the penalty phase. The district court denied relief on the remaining penalty phase claims. Ainsworth cross-appeals from the district court's denial of relief on three claims. Because we conclude that Ainsworth's constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel was violated, we do not consider the additional issue raised in the State's appeal or those issues raised in Ainsworth's cross-appeal as all four issues relate to the penalty phase trial and there is no indication those issues would arise again in a new penalty phase trial. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's decision to grant the writ based on counsel's ineffective assistance.