Vaca v. State

WILLIAM RAY PRICE, JR, Chief Justice.

I. Introduction

A jury convicted Miguel Vaca of various violent felonies arising from a string of armed robberies. Now Vaca asks for post-conviction relief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel during the sentencing phase of his bifurcated trial. Because Vaca’s defense counsel possessed mental health evidence detailing Vaca’s mental illness, was apprised of the jury’s interest in Vaca’s mental condition, and did not consider whether to present such records or testimony to the jury, trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective. Vaca’s motion for…