Opinion ID: 2630721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: control of mitigation evidence

Text: ś 54 Similarly, Cross argues that his constitutional rights were violated when the trial judge allowed expert testimony relating to his mental health to be presented to the jury over his clear and repeated objections. We disagree. Again, counsel has broad authority to determine strategy, even over the client's objections. ś 55 Substantially similar arguments were recently considered by the Ninth Circuit in Kaczynski, 239 F.3d 1108. Kaczynski argued that his guilty plea was involuntary on the grounds that it was the result of his counsel's insistence on presenting evidence of Kaczynski's poor mental health, and the trial judge's refusal to allow him to proceed pro se or with alternate counsel. Kaczynski, 239 F.3d at 1110. The Ninth Circuit rejected Kaczynski's arguments. Emphasizing that the decision of what evidence to present was a strategy decision vested in the hands of the attorney. Kaczynski, 239 F.3d at 1118. ś 56 Again, the client controls the goals of litigation. See RPC 1.2. A competent defendant may forbid counsel to put on a mitigation case if his goal is to have the death penalty imposed. E.g., State v. Woods, 143 Wash.2d 561, 23 P.3d 1046 (2001); State v. Sagastegui, 135 Wash.2d 67, 954 P.2d 1311 (1998). However, Cross apparently did not wish to be put to death. Once he has decided the goal, the strategy is largely in the hands of his attorneys. ś 57 Cross also argues that his attorney/client and doctor/patient privileges were violated when his counsel called mental health experts who had interviewed him on the stand to testify. He analogizes this to the prosecution calling defense counsel to the stand to testify about confidential communications. Cf. State v. Sullivan, 60 Wash.2d 214, 217-18, 373 P.2d 474 (1962) (reversing conviction after prosecution was allowed to examine defense counsel). Generally, communications made to a doctor or psychologist are confidential. RCW 5.60.060; RCW 18.83.110; Sullivan, 60 Wash.2d at 223, 373 P.2d 474. However, only communications originally made in confidence are so privileged. State v. King, 130 Wash.2d 517, 532, 925 P.2d 606 (1996). Examinations that are not done for the purpose of providing treatment but instead solely for forensic purposes are not within the statutory testimonial prohibitions of the doctor-patient privilege. Sullivan, 60 Wash.2d at 223, 373 P.2d 474 (citing State v. Winnett, 48 Wash. 93, 92 P. 904 (1907)). While a trial court may (and should) properly redact or exclude incriminating statements, such experts may testify about the mental health of the defendant when it is put into controversy by the defense. See, e.g., State v. Brewton, 49 Wash. App. 589, 591-92, 744 P.2d 646 (1987) (trial court properly gave the State access to mental health records when the defendant raised diminished capacity defense). ś 58 We note that Cross relies on cases where the State has attempted to question defense experts outside of the trial context. In this case, the defense experts were put on by the defense. Cf. State v. Nuss, 52 Wash. App. 735, 742, 763 P.2d 1249 (1988). We have found no court that held that a client's privileges were violated by his own counsel putting on such evidence. ś 59 Traditionally, the presentation of mental health testimony largely waives the right to keep mental health information privileged. See generally State v. Pawlyk, 115 Wash.2d 457, 800 P.2d 338 (1990). Whether to present this evidence is vested in the hands of defense counsel. While there is considerable academic support (and opposition) to allowing the client to veto the presentation of this evidence, courts have uniformly held that this is counsel's decision, absent ineffective assistance of counsel. See generally LaFAVE ET AL., supra. Holding that the client could prevent the presentation of this evidence in the penalty stage would be a significant change in the law. Cross has not shown that change is warranted. ś 60 Additionally, Cross argues that Superior Court Special Proceeding Rule (SPRC) 5 authorizes him to control whether mental health evidence may be submitted in the penalty phase. This rule provides that: Within 24 hours after a jury returns a verdict finding a defendant guilty of aggravated murder in the first degree, the court will require the defendant to elect whether he or she may present expert testimony at the special sentencing proceeding concerning his or her mental condition. SPRC 5(g). Cross contends that this rule vests the decision in the hands of the defendant personally, rather than in the hands of the defense team. However, he submits no evidence that SPRC 5 was intended to change the general rule that counsel decides whether to submit mental health evidence, not the client, nor whether this rule could have made such a sweeping change to the law as formulated. ś 61 We hold that the trial court did not err in allowing expert testimony to be submitted as mitigating evidence over Cross's pro se objections. [9]