Opinion ID: 1060577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: psychological records of christina rhodes

Text: The defendant contends that the trial court erred by not allowing defense counsel to review the psychological treatment records of Christina Rhodes, the daughter of the victim, who witnessed the killing of her mother and who testified at trial on behalf of the state. The defense requested these records so they could cross-examine the witness regarding her competency and credibility both at the time of the offense and at trial. Specifically, the defendant asserts that without these records he was unable to effectively question her credibility, with particular reference to what she actually observed and heard at the time of the offense and how later psychological problems may have affected her memory as to those events. Upon review of the sealed records, we find that the trial court properly held that the psychological treatment records need not be disclosed. Upon discovery that Ms. Rhodes had been seen by a psychologist after the death of her mother, the defense filed a Motion to Compel Identification of Psychiatrist or Psychologist Treating Witness Christie Rhodes. The prosecution obtained the name of the psychologist from Christina's father. The defense then filed a subpoena for the treatment records, which the trial court granted. Before the records were delivered, the trial court indicated to defense counsel that it was willing to conduct an in camera examination of the records to determine whether (a) there is anything exculpatory or (b) there is anything within those reports that would indicate some lack of reality, I guess is what you're looking for. Defense counsel indicated that the trial court was correct. Upon conducting an in camera examination of the records, the trial court made the following finding: [Christina] had some nightmares in the beginning and they got better and then flashbacks, nothing about what happened, nothing about hallucinations, nothing aboutshe said she didn't remember her dreams. She didn't remember the nightmares when she woke up. I'm not going to release the records, and I will put them under seal ... In State v. Middlebrooks, 840 S.W.2d 317 (Tenn.1992), our Supreme Court held that to ensure a defendant's right to cross-examine is not denied, trial courts should review psychiatric records of witnesses in camera to determine if the records are relevant in determining the witness' veracity. Id. at 333. In Middlebrooks , the trial court's failure to review the records was held to be harmless error because a review of the sealed records revealed that they contained very little information probative on the issue of credibility. Id. In the present case, the trial court properly reviewed the psychological records of Christina and determined that the information contained need not be disclosed to the defense. Having reviewed the psychological records, this Court agrees that the records need not be disclosed. They contain nothing exculpatory. This issue is without merit.