Opinion ID: 1210535
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Apply for Investigatory and Expert Assistance Ex Parte

Text: Wood claims that Whittier committed a grievous error when he applied for investigative and expert assistance in open court with notice to the prosecutor. Wood relies upon a statutory procedure in the federal system and a process recognized by some state decisions. See 21 U.S.C. § 848(q)(9); 18 U.S.C. § 3006A; State v. Ballard, 333 N.C. 515, 428 S.E.2d 178 (N.C. 1993). Wood argues that he should have been permitted to obtain financial and expert assistance without notice to the prosecutor, and that Whittier should have attempted to obtain this assistance through an ex parte procedure. Wood claims that the U.S. Supreme Court's rationale in Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), leads to an inevitable conclusion that an ex parte procedure for obtaining expert assistance is constitutionally required. The issue dealt with by the U.S. Supreme Court in Ake was the state court's denial of a defense motion for a psychiatric evaluation at the state's expense when the defendant's mental state was clearly in issue. The facts and the language used by the Court in Ake indicates that Wood's proposed conclusion is not required. The U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue in these terms: Our concern is that the indigent defendant have access to a competent psychiatrist for the purpose we have discussed, and as in the case of the provision of counsel we leave to the States the decision on how to implement this right. Ake, 470 U.S. at 83, 105 S.Ct. 1087. Idaho Code § 19-852 provides for a right to counsel for indigent persons and a right to the necessary services and facilities of representation (including investigation and other preparation). I.C. § 19-852(a)(2). Nothing in this section guarantees an ex parte application for the assistance. The fact that the prosecutor knows of the application for such assistance does not deny the defendant due process. Whittier did not provide ineffective assistance of counsel by making the requests for assistance in open court with notice to the prosecutor.