Case Name: Scott E. McMULLEN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1998-04-09
Citations: 714 So. 2d 368
Docket Number: No. 86684
Parties: Scott E. McMULLEN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
Judges: OVERTON, SHAW, HARDING and WELLS, JJ., and GRIMES, Senior Justice, concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 714
Pages: 368–381

Head Matter:
Scott E. McMULLEN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
No. 86684.
Supreme Court of Florida.
April 9, 1998.
Rehearing Denied June 10, 1998.
L. Martin Reeder, Jr. and Kim A. Prine of Steel, Hector and Davis, West Palm Beach, Margaret B. Reeder, Palm Beach Gardens, and Evelyn A. Ziegler, West Palm Beach, for Petitioner.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Georgina Jimenez-Orosa, Bureau Chief, and Myra J. Fried, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for Respondent.
John F. Tierney, III of Tierney and Haughwout, West Palm Beach, for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, amicus curiae.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We have for review McMullen v. State, 660 So.2d 340 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995), in which the district court affirmed petitioner's conviction, upholding the trial court's denial of Scott E. McMullen's request to use an expert witness to testify regarding factors that affect the reliability of eyewitness identification. In so ruling, the district court certified the following question as one of great public importance:
WHEN THE SOLE ISSUE IN A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IS ONE OF IDENTITY AND THE SOLE INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE IS EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY, SHOULD THE COURT ADMIT EXPERT TESTIMONY UPON THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE RELIABILITY OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION?
Id. at 342. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. For the reasons expressed, we decline to answer the certified question as worded. We hold that the admission of such testimony is within the discretion of the trial judge and that, in this case, the trial judge did not abuse that discretionary authority by refusing to allow the introduction of the expert testimony. Thus the district court's affirmance of petitioner's conviction is hereby approved.
MATERIAL FACTS
Scott E. McMullen was charged by a three-count information for shooting into a dwelling, aggravated assault (with a firearm), and aggravated battery (with a firearm). On the night of the offenses, an assailant allegedly approached Sheron Grewal while she was sweeping the parking lot outside of the beer store she owned with her husband, Mo-hinder. After grabbing Sheron by the shoulder, the assailant tried to push her inside the store. When she resisted, he brandished a gun and shoved it into her side. Hearing noises outside, Mohinder, who was inside the store attending the cash register, walked toward the doorway. As he approached the doorway, he caught a glimpse of the assailant, who shot him and then turned and fled. Both Mohinder and Sheron identified McMullen as the assailant. We also note, as did Judge Farmer in his concurring opinion, that the assailant was of a different race than the witnesses and that McMullen was initially not among the police suspects. Further, the wife told the police detectives that she had never seen the assailant before the incident. Two months after the shooting, the witnesses' son called the police detectives and reported that his parents had seen the assailant in their drive-through window earlier that day. The police arranged a photographic lineup at the store. When the array of photographs was presented to the witnesses, the wife told the husband that McMullen was the one who had shot him. Contrary to her initial statement to the police after the incident, the wife testified at trial that she recognized the assailant as an occasional customer at the store. Both the husband and wife identified McMullen as the perpetrator. Alibi witnesses were presented by McMullen, and McMullen testified that he was not the person who accosted the wife and shot the husband.
Prior to trial, McMullen filed a motion to appoint an expert witness on eyewitness identification. The trial judge granted the motion, but the order did not address the admissibility of that expert's testimony. Subsequently, the State filed a motion in limine to exclude the defense expert on eyewitness identification. The State argued that the expert testimony should not be admitted because it was invading the province of the jury. McMullen's counsel proffered the testimony of Dr. John Brigham, a professor of psychology at Florida State University, regarding psychological factors believed to affect the reliability of eyewitness identification. According to Dr. Brigham, countless scientific studies have been conducted indicating that psychological factors, which are largely unknown to laypersons, can affect the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. Specifically, Dr. Brigham stated that he could testify about the following six issues at trial: (1) eyewitness identifications are incorrect much more often than the average person thinks; (2) a witness's confidence or certainty in an identification is unrelated to the accuracy of the identification; (3) cross-racial identifications are more difficult than same-race identifications; (4) "unconscious trans ference," i.e., it is easier for a person to remember a face than to remember the circumstances under which the person saw the face; (5) the accuracy of facial identifications decreases in stressful situations; and (6) the accuracy of identification decreases as the interval between the event and the time when the witness attempts to retrieve the memory increases.
As noted, the State objected to the introduction of Dr. Brigham's testimony, arguing that the substance of his testimony did not require any special knowledge or experience to assist the jurors in reaching their conclusions. During the argument on the motion in limine, the State argued that under this Court's decision in Johnson v. State, 438 So.2d 774 (Fla.1983), the admission of Dr. Brigham's testimony was within the discretion of the trial court. McMullen's counsel agreed, stating:
No, I think the State's case also stands for the proposition that the decision to allow expert testimony is subject to discretion of the trial court and probably not subject to review absent a review of discretion. And I believe, Judge, that that is the case, but that also stands for the proposition that you could either decide to allow it and not allow it and it would be clearly this court's decision but you could admit it.
The State responded:
I would agree with [McMullen's counsel]. As he pointed out to the court, this is clearly something within Your Honor's discretion to let in or not let in.
Relying on the discretionary authority enunciated in Johnson, the trial judge excluded the testimony, finding:
This Court is of the opinion that the facts testified to by Dr. Brigham are not of such a nature as to require special knowledge in order for a jury to reach a decision. In Johnson v. State, the Florida Supreme Court, in affirming the trial court's refusal to allow the testimony of an expert witness in the field of eyewitness identification, held:
"[A] jury is fully capable of assessing a witness' ability to perceive and remember, given the assistance of cross-examination and cautionary instructions, without the aid of expert testimony."
660 So.2d at 341 (citation omitted).
Subsequently, the jury found McMullen guilty of all charges.
On appeal, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed on the authority of our decision in Johnson but certified the above question to this Court.
OTHER JURISDICTIONS
At the outset, it must be understood that there are three differing views as to the admissibility of an expert witness's testimony regarding the reliability of eyewitness identification. The first is the "discretionary" view, which provides that the admission of expert testimony regarding eyewitness identification is in the discretion of the trial judge. An overwhelming majority of both federal and state courts that have addressed this issue have adopted this view.
The second view is the "prohibitory view," which expressly prohibits the use of this type of expert testimony. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has adopted a per se rule prohibiting the introduction of expert testimony with regard to the credibility of eyewitness identification testimony under any circumstances. United States v. Holloway, 971 F.2d 675 (11th Cir.1992). That holding means, of course, that such expert testimony cannot be used in any federal court in our jurisdiction. A few other courts appear to have adopted this view. See State v. Goldsby, 59 Or.App. 66, 650 P.2d 952 (1982); Commonwealth v. Simmons, 541 Pa. 211, 662 A.2d 621 (1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1128, 116 S.Ct. 945, 133 L.Ed.2d 870 (1996); State v. Wooden, 658 S.W.2d 553 (Tenn.Crim.App.1983).
Finally, some jurisdictions have adopted the "limited admissibility" view, finding it to be an abuse of discretion to exclude this type of expert testimony in cases where there is no substantial corroborating evidence. Apparently, only two courts have adopted this view: United States v. Downing, 753 F.2d 1224 (3d Cir.1985), and People v. McDonald, 37 Cal.3d 351, 208 Cal.Rptr. 236, 690 P.2d 709 (1984). This last decision by the California Supreme Court reversed a conviction where an expert was not allowed to testify, reasoning:
When an eyewitness identification of the defendant is a key element of the prosecution's case but is not substantially corroborated by evidence giving it independent reliability, and the defendant offers qualified expert testimony on specific psychological factors shown by the record that could have affected the accuracy of the identification but are not likely to be fully understood by the jury, it will ordinarily be error to exclude that testimony.
Id., 208 Cal.Rptr. at 253-54, 690 P.2d at 727. It also could be argued that the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in Commonwealth v. Santoli agrees with this view by its holding that, when corroborating evidence is available, the exclusion of expert testimony is not an abuse of discretion. 424 Mass. 837, 680 N.E.2d 1116 (1997).
FLORIDA
We have adopted the majority "discretionary" view in this state. In Johnson, we stated:
Expert testimony should be excluded when the facts testified to are of such nature as not to require any special knowledge or experience in order for the jury to form its conclusions. We hold that a jury is fully capable of assessing a witness' ability to perceive and remember, given the assistance of cross-examination and cautionary instructions, without the aid of exert testimony. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's refusal to allow this witness to testify about the reliability of eyewitness identification.
438 So.2d at 777 (citation and footnote omitted) (emphasis added). In Johnson, the defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. 438 So.2d at 775. At trial, the defendant attempted to call as an expert witness a professor of psychology to testify about common problems with eyewitness identifications and the factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness identification. Id. at 777. On review, we provided several reasons for supporting the trial court's exclusion of the expert testimony. First, we reiterated that trial courts have wide discretion concerning the admissibility of evidence and the range of subjects about which an expert can testify. Id. Second, we concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion because expert testimony should be excluded when the facts testified to are of such a nature as not to require any special knowledge or experience in order for the jury to form its conclusions. Id. Finally, we held that "a jury is fully capable of assessing a witness' ability to perceive and remember, given the assistance of cross-examination and cautionary instructions, without the aid of expert testimony." Id.
Since we issued our decision in Johnson, we have addressed the issue of expert testimony regarding the reliability of eyewitness identification in four other cases. Espinosa v. State, 589 So.2d 887 (Fla.1991), reversed on other grounds, 505 U.S. 1079, 112 S.Ct. 2926, 120 L.Ed.2d 854 (1992); Lewis v. State, 572 So.2d 908 (Fla.1990); Rogers v. State, 511 So.2d 526 (Fla.1987); Hooper v. State, 476 So.2d 1253 (Fla.1985). In each of these cases, we have approved the exclusion of part or all of expert testimony or approved the denial of costs for same based on our decision in Johnson.
In Espinosa v. State, 589 So.2d 887 (Fla.1991), we quoted our holding in Johnson that "a jury is fully capable of assessing a witness' ability to perceive and remember, given the assistance of cross-examination and cautionary instructions, without the aid of expert testimony." Id. at 893. We cited that same language in Lewis v. State, 572 So.2d 908 (Fla.1990), where the expert witness admitted he could not testify as to the reliability of any specific witness, but could offer only general comments about how a witness arrives at his conclusions. Id. at 911. However, in Rogers v. State, 511 So.2d 526 (Fla.1987), the trial court admitted the expert testimony of the same expert involved herein, and we cited Johnson in holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in limiting that expert's testimony.
Despite our findings in these cases, Johnson could be interpreted as a per se rule of inadmissibility of this type of testimony given our statement that "[w]e hold that jury is fully capable of assessing a witness' ability to perceive and remember, given the assistance of cross-examination and cautionary instructions, without the aid of expert testimony." 438 So.2d at 777. See e.g., McMullen, 660 So.2d at 342 (Farmer, J. concurring specially) ("The opinion of the supreme court in [Johnson] is to my mind a rather categorical holding that such evidence is inadmissible.").
Despite the overwhelming view to the contrary, which includes the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, McMullen has seized upon that confusion to urge us to follow what he asserts to be "the modern trend." According to McMullen, the modern trend advances the proposition that the admission of expert testimony on the reliability of eyewitness identification will enhance the jury's knowledge and help it resolve the issue presented, especially when eyewitness identification constitutes virtually the entire case against the defendant. We recognize that there are those who have written extensively in seeking the admission of expert testimony on this issue, arguing that the defendant should have the opportunity to present this type of expert testimony to challenge the credibility of eyewitnesses. As noted previously, however, only a minority of jurisdictions have accepted this view.
We hereby reaffirm our holding in Johnson by concluding that the admissibility of expert testimony regarding the reliability of eyewitness testimony is left to the sound discretion of the trial judge. By so holding, we are continuing to align ourselves with a majority of other jurisdictions. Under our evidence code, § 90.702, Fla. Stat. (1997), the trial judge, in considering the admissibility of this type of evidence, must evaluate whether the evidence will assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or in determining a fact in issue. Angrand v. Key, 657 So.2d 1146, 1148 (Fla.1995).
THE INSTANT CASE
Upon review of the record here, which includes statements to the trial court by counsel for both McMullen and the State agreeing that the trial court had the discretion to admit or exclude the expert's testimony, we conclude that the trial court understood that the admission of the expert's testimony was discretionary. Further, we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the testimony. The trial court was in a far superior position to that of an appellate court to consider whether the testimony would have aided the jury in reaching its decision.
We decline to address the other issues raised by McMullen, which are not within the scope of the certified question.
Accordingly, we decline to answer the certified question as worded, holding that the admission of such testimony is within the discretion of the trial judge and that, in this case, the trial judge did not abuse that discretionary authority by refusing to allow the introduction of the expert testimony. The decision of the district court of appeal is approved.
It is so ordered.
OVERTON, SHAW, HARDING and WELLS, JJ., and GRIMES, Senior Justice, concur.
ANSTEAD, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion, in which KOGAN, C.J., concurs.
. The facts are taken from the Fourth District's opinion. McMullen, 660 So.2d at 341.
. See United States v. Kime, 99 F.3d 870 (8th Cir.1996), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 1015, 136 L.Ed.2d 892 (1997); United States v. Daniels, 64 F.3d 311 (7th Cir.1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1063, 116 S.Ct. 745, 133 L.Ed.2d 693 (1996); United States v. Brien, 59 F.3d 274 (1st Cir.1995); United States v. Rincon, 28 F.3d 921 (9th Cir.1994); United States v. Harris, 995 F.2d 532 (4th Cir.1993); United States v. Curry, 977 F.2d 1042 (7th Cir.1992); United States v. George, 975 F.2d 1431 (9th Cir.1992); United States v. Moore, 786 F.2d 1308 (5th Cir.1986); United States v. Brown, 540 F.2d 1048 (10th Cir.1976).
. See Ex parte Williams, 594 So.2d 1225 (Ala.1992); State v. Chappie, 135 Ariz. 281, 660 P.2d 1208 (1983); Jones v. State, 314 Ark. 289, 862 S.W.2d 242 (1993); People v. Campbell, 847 P.2d 228 (Colo.Ct.App.1992); State v. Kemp, 199 Conn. 473, 507 A.2d 1387 (1986); State v. Gaines, 260 Kan. 752, 926 P.2d 641 (1996); People v. Enis, 139 Ill.2d 264, 151 Ill.Dec. 493, 564 N.E.2d 1155 (1990); Commonwealth v. Santoli, 424 Mass. 837, 680 N.E.2d 1116 (1997); White v. State, 112 Nev. 1261, 926 P.2d 291 (1996); People v. Mooney, 76 N.Y.2d 827, 560 N.Y.S.2d 115, 559 N.E.2d 1274 (1990); State v. Gardiner, 636 A.2d 710 (R.I.1994); State v. Whaley, 305 S.C. 138, 406 S.E.2d 369 (1991); State v. Percy, 156 Vt. 468, 595 A.2d 248 (1990); State v. Moon, 45 Wash.App. 692, 726 P.2d 1263 (1986); Engberg v. Meyer, 820 P.2d 70 (Wyo.1991).
. Recently, the Eleventh Circuit was asked to reevaluate this per se exclusion in United States v. Smith, 122 F.3d 1355 (11th Cir.1997), based on Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993). However, it declined to do so, finding instead that, under the facts of Smith, the expert testimony regarding eyewitness reliability was inadmissible under Daubert.
. A comprehensive treatment of this subject is contained in the treatise Eyewitness Testimony: Civil and Criminal (3d ed. 1997), authored by Elizabeth F. Loftus and James M. Doyle.
. See Sally M.A. Lloyd-Bostock & Brian R. Clifford, Evaluating Witness Evidence: Recent Psychological Research and New Perspectives (1983); Nathan R. Sobel, Eyewitness Identification: Legal and Practical Problems (2d ed. 1981); Gary L. Wells & Elizabeth F. Loftus, Eyewitness Testimony: Psychological Perspectives (1984); Cathy M. Holt, Expert Testimony on Eyewitness Identification: Invading the Province of the Lury?, 26 Ariz. L.Rev. 399 (1984); Sheri Lynn Johnson, Cross-Racial Identification Errors in Criminal Cases, 69 Cornell L.Rev. 934 (1984); Cindy J. O'Hagan, When Seeing is Not Believing: The Case for Eyewitness Expert Testimony, 81 Geo. L.J. 741 (1993); Steven D. Penrod & Brian L. Cutler, Eyewitness Expert Testimony and Jury Decision-making, L. & Contemp.Probs., Autumn 1989, at 43.