Opinion ID: 2062476
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Restricting the Testimony at the Post Conviction Hearing

Text: Gilliam contends that the post conviction judge improperly restricted the testimony of his witness, Hans Selvog. Mr. Selvog, a social worker with a Master's Degree in social work, prepared the second post-sentencing psychosocial history. Gilliam's specific contention is that the court erred in refusing to admit Selvog's opinions and in refusing to allow Selvog to draw comparisons between his report and that done by the University of Maryland social work team in 1989. Neither action by the court was error. Gilliam's contention that Selvog should have been allowed to state his conclusions has not been preserved for appellate review. After some discussion regarding the extent to which the court might allow Selvog to testify, the prosecution agreed to allow Selvog to introduce his report into evidence with the exception of the portion containing his opinions. In response, Gilliam's post conviction counsel stated, Your Honor, I have no problem deleting the last two pages and anything within the report that would allude to a conclusion on the part of Mr. Selvog. I would, however, like the opportunity to at least go through ... at least the personal history of Tyrone Gilliam, Junior. The Court thereafter admitted Selvog's report minus any conclusions or opinions rendered. As Gilliam did not object to the course of action proposed by the prosecution and taken by the court, and apparently indicated his agreement with it, he cannot now be heard to complain that the court's action was wrong. See Md.Rule 8-131(a); White v. State, 324 Md. 626, 640, 598 A.2d 187, 194 (1991). In any case, we are not directed to any specific opinions or conclusions which Gilliam claims were erroneously excluded. Gilliam offered Selvog only to provide a basis for Dr. McDaniel's subsequent opinion; therefore, Selvog's compilation of Gilliam's psychosocial history was all that was relevant. We would also point out that the post conviction judge, as trier of fact, is not obliged to give credence to any of Mr. Selvog's opinions. Further, the judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing to allow Selvog to compare his report with the social history report done for the sentencing hearing. As the post conviction judge stated, he needed no assistance to ascertain whether, and how, the two reports differed. Expert testimony may be excluded when it will not aid the trier of fact. I.W. Berman Properties v. Porter Bros., Inc., 276 Md. 1, 14, 344 A.2d 65, 74 (1975); see also State v. Allenwalt, 308 Md. 89, 101, 517 A.2d 741, 747 (1986); L. McLain, Maryland Evidence § 702.1, at 218 (Expert testimony also will be inappropriate when the expert can add nothing to what the judge or jurors already know or could infer from the evidence.). Finally, the court properly foreclosed Selvog from reiterating and summarizing the report that was already in evidence, as such testimony would have been cumulative. The post conviction judge therefore did not abuse his discretion by the manner in which he restricted Selvog's testimony.