Opinion ID: 168357
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Consult Expert

Text: 57 Mr. Barkell also complains about Mr. McQueen's failure to consult with or call at trial an expert witness on child psychiatry. He argues that this failure was unreasonable because Mr. McQueen had the resources to call an expert witness, it is common for the prosecution to call an expert witness in child-sex-abuse cases, and a reasonable defense attorney would use an expert to prepare. He claims that his defense was prejudiced by this failure because (1) consultation with an expert would have aided Mr. McQueen's cross-examination of the state's expert and BV, and (2) a defense expert could have explained to the jury how children's testimony should be evaluated, as well as shed light on problems with the testimony of the state's expert. Aplt. Br. at 32. 58 An affidavit from Ms. Lozano, the public defender originally assigned to Mr. Barkell's case, submitted with the state-court motion for a limited remand supports his claim that it was unreasonable for Mr. McQueen not to consult an expert. The affidavit states, [I]t is standard practice to enlist the use of an expert in child sex abuse cases, whether to help prepare for cross examination or to testify as a defense witness. Aplt.App. at 138-39. 59 As for a showing of prejudice, although the independent-expert report submitted by Mr. Barkell with the remand motion lists 14 factors that support BV's credibility, it also lists five factors that question her credibility. In addition, the report states that the expert could have . . . informed the jury about the body of knowledge and research on children's false allegations of sexual abuse. Id. at 216. On the other hand, the report also stated: I do not disagree with anything the state's expert said. Id. 60 This last statement convinces us that it was not ineffective assistance to fail to call the expert as a witness. Ultimately, her testimony would simply have corroborated that of the government's expert, and would have had the added prejudicial impact of emanating from the defense. 61 But consultation to assist in cross-examination is another matter. The report suggests that Mr. McQueen could have scored some points on cross-examination of the prosecution's expert. And, more importantly, prior consultation would likely have prevented him from asking whether children in stepparent families are more likely to be abused than other children, a question that elicited a damaging affirmative answer. Although we are uncertain whether this prejudice would itself be sufficient to sustain Mr. Barkell's ineffectiveness claim, the prejudice resulting from this lapse may well have added to any prejudice resulting from Mr. McQueen's failure to investigate BV's school and counseling experience. Mr. Barkell is thus entitled to include this matter in the evidentiary hearing in federal district court. After the hearing the court will be equipped to decide whether the failure to consult an expert was constitutionally ineffective in itself or in combination with the alleged failure to investigate.