Michael Skakel v. Commissioner of Correction

Summary

The court reversed the habeas court’s judgment granting relief and remanded with direction to deny the petition, concluding that trial counsel’s representation was constitutionally adequate. It held that counsel reasonably chose not to implicate Thomas Skakel, reasonably failed to identify and call Denis Ossorio as an alibi witness, and reasonably relied on cross-examination rather than additional witnesses to impeach Gregory Coleman. Robinson, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part, would have granted a new trial based on the failure to investigate Ossorio; Palmer, J., dissenting, would have found multiple prejudicial deficiencies, particularly concerning the alibi and third-party culpability defenses.