Taylor v. State

Summary

The court affirmed Taylor’s convictions and sentences, holding that his challenge to excluded mental-health evidence was affirmatively waived, the mistrial motion was properly denied, and the sentencing record did not establish punishment for exercising the right to trial. The court also rejected Taylor’s ineffective-assistance claims because counsel reasonably relied on mental-health evaluations in declining to pursue an insanity defense, and Taylor either failed to show deficient performance or failed to establish prejudice concerning mitigation. No separate opinions were filed.