Opinion ID: 881474
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issue II: Did the trial court's refusal to order the release and disclosure of Janey Doe's medical and psychiatric records deny defendant the right to confront witnesses against him or the right to due process?

Text: On the first day of trial defendant filed a motion to obtain Janey Doe's medical and psychiatric records, arguing defendant was entitled to copies of medical reports, psychological evaluations or interviews of any of the counselors or psychiatrists that treated Janey, including Rochelle Beley, Sandi Burns, Dr. Michael Sievert and Dr. Harry Newman. Defendant reasoned that because the State intended to call as expert witnesses psychotherapist Sandi Burns, psychiatrist Dr. Michael Sievert, Ms. Burns and Dr. Sievert would base their opinion testimony on conversations had with Janey Doe and other notes and reports on which the experts relied. Defendant claimed that in order to effectively cross-examine these witnesses and not be denied due process, defendant needed to examine Ms. Burns' and Dr. Sievert's notes on Janey. Defendant further argued that the State had access to information contained in social worker Rochelle Beley's investigative file on Janey Doe, that such information may have been exculpatory, and the State was, therefore, obligated to disclose the file to defendant. Defendant also moved to prohibit the testimony of Burns, Sievert and Beley on the basis that the State failed to disclose the information contained in their investigative and psychological files. The matter was heard on November 28. The discussion between the District Court and counsel indicates that the defense had received all medical and psychiatric reports that were in the possession of the prosecutors. Discussion also showed defense counsel had interviewed Ms. Beley and Ms. Burns before trial and that the prosecutors and guardian ad litem themselves had not examined the case files of the mental health professionals who had treated Janey Doe. The files of Rochelle Beley, including any reports therein from Rivendell and Billings Deaconess Hospital's 2-North Psychiatric Unit, were subjected to an in camera inspection by defense counsel. The prosecutor also agreed to ask psychotherapist Sandi Burns to bring her records for a similar in camera inspection, but defense counsel made no further request for inspection. While allowing an inspection of Rochelle Beley's file, the District Court denied motions as to all other records. Dr. Sievert did not testify at trial, nor did defendant subpoena him. Both Ms. Burns and Ms. Beley testified at trial and defense counsel cross-examined them without restriction. We find that defendant was not denied either his right to confront witnesses or his due process rights because of the District Court's refusal to grant defendant's motion to obtain all Janey Doe's medical and psychiatric records. We adopt the reasoning of our sister court in Colorado which held: [T]he right of a defendant to confront his accusers is not equivalent to a constitutionally compelled rule of pretrial discovery. Rather, the right of confrontation is a trial right, guaranteeing an opportunity for effective cross-examination. See Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 107 S.Ct. 989, 94 L.Ed.2d 40 (1987). (Emphasis in the original.) People v. Exline (Colo. App. 1988), 775 P.2d 48, 49. Additionally, the United States Supreme Court has held that: The ability to question adverse witnesses, however, does not include the power to require the pretrial disclosure of any and all information that might be useful in contradicting unfavorable testimony. Pennsylvania v. Ritchie (1987), 480 U.S. 39, 53, 107 S.Ct. 989, 999, 94 L.Ed.2d 40, 54. (Footnote omitted.) As we noted in a recent case, because defendant was afforded the opportunity to cross-examine all witnesses against him, the court's ruling denying defendant access to the victim's child abuse files of certain state agencies does not violate defendant's right to confront his accusers. State v. Thiel (Mont. 1989), 768 P.2d 343, 345, 46 St.Rep. 182, 185. We further hold that the medical records pertaining to the victim's psychotherapeutic treatment are protected from disclosure by various recognized testimonial privileges which outweigh the defendant's purported need for or limited right to such information in the hands of a non-adversary third party. Section 26-1-807, MCA, provides an unqualified privilege for confidential communications between a psychologist and client. The District Court acted properly in denying defendant's motion to obtain access to Dr. Sievert's, Sandi Burns' and Dr. Newman's records pertaining to Janey Doe.