Opinion ID: 2216607
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defense of temporary insanity.

Text: Hinkle argues trial counsel did not promptly, adequately and thoroughly explore an insanity defense. We are not persuaded this claim has any merit. Although Hinkle apparently complained of a childhood head injury and blackouts, we have already noted counsel's testimony that he understood the blackouts were associated with drinking, and his strong testimony he saw nothing to indicate Hinkle had a diminished mental capacity. Counsel's reaction was confirmed by the testimony of Dr. Loeffelholz at the postconviction hearing. Amnesia associated with heavy drinking is a common occurrence and not ordinarily associated with insanity. In direct refutation of Hinkle's claim his blackouts were not explored, Dr. Loeffelholz stated he did inquire into this area, that Hinkle admitted he did do a fair amount of drinking, did not drink to blackouts, but that while under the influence he would have some foggy memory. Hinkle did tell Dr. Loeffelholz he had some bumps on the head while a child, but had no history of any medical attention and had never been hospitalized. Dr. Loeffelholz found no evidence of psychiatric illness or brain damage. In assessing trial counsel's effectiveness, we note that the appointment of a psychiatrist for an examination at State expense is discretionary with the district court judge. Trial court is to make an objective evaluation, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including but not limited to (a) defendant's prior medical history as to any mental or emotional instability, (b) his past conduct, and (c) defendant's apparent mental state and demeanor as observed by the trial judge. If the request is found to be frivolous or without underlying factual support, a denial is in order. State v. Williams, 243 N.W.2d 658, 660 (Iowa 1976); State v. McGhee, 220 N.W.2d 908, 913 (Iowa 1974). Under this standard, trial counsel's decision (if a conscious one) to delay the application in hope of finding additional factual support is within the range of normal competency. Other than Hinkle's own vague and unsupported suggestions, there was no indication either at trial or on the postconviction hearing that he had suffered a head injury or had any traumatic residuals. A trial court's rejection of an application undergirded by stronger factual support was upheld in State v. Williams, 243 N.W.2d at 660-61. Each of the decisions Hinkle relies on presents stronger facts to justify a holding that the defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel for failure to explore a criminal responsibility defense. In United States v. Fessel, 531 F.2d 1275 (5th Cir. 1976), there was a prior mental commitment and a diagnosis of schizophrenia during a prior incarceration. United States v. Edwards, 488 F.2d 1154 (5th Cir. 1974), presented stronger circumstances, including prior psychiatric problems and mental examination, and evidence of mental problems in conversations with counsel in a prior criminal case. The defendant in Brooks v. Texas, 381 F.2d 619 (5th Cir. 1967), previously had been committed to three different mental institutions and had attempted suicide twice. In Brubaker v. Dickson, 310 F.2d 30 (9th Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 372 U.S. 978, 83 S.Ct. 1110, 10 L.Ed.2d 143 (1963), there was a prior medical history of head injury, defendant was definitely seizure prone and postconviction examination revealed organic brain damage. Counsel in Springer v. Collins, 444 F.Supp. 1049 (D.Md.1977), cited by Hinkle, knew of the defendant's prior history of drug and alcohol abuse and his massive ingestion of those drugs prior to commission of the crime. At trial a deputy sheriff testified defendant was still incoherent 18 hours after the incident. In the postconviction proceeding the opinion of a medical witness was admitted to show that when the crime was committed defendant was insane. Upon further appeal, this decision was reversed in Springer v. Collins, 586 F.2d 329 (4th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 923, 99 S.Ct. 1252, 59 L.Ed.2d 477 (1979), where the court observed: In our opinion, to grant relief in this case would be tantamount to establishing a per se rule that in any case in which there is evidence that a defendant was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol at the time of an alleged offense, the range of competence test would require that an attorney obtain a psychiatric examination of his client and consider the possibility, indeed the probability, of an insanity defense. We do not think that the Sixth Amendment requires this degree of caution and meticulosity on the part of counsel who has otherwise performed in a competent, conscientious and professional manner. 586 F.2d at 333. When Hinkle was found in Patty Bradley's basement he offered excuses for his returning to the home and for being in the basement. Within a short time he was taken to the police station where without assistance he gave two telephone numbers to the police and made two calls. In one telephone conversation he reported they got me in jail because I killed Pat, although at that point the police had only used the word homicide in his presence. There was nothing in these circumstances to support a claim of insanity. We hold Hinkle has not proved that trial counsel in this regard did not perform within the range of normal competency.