Opinion ID: 1347679
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: right to state-appointed investigators and expert witnesses in a collateral attack on a death penalty

Text: A month after filing his petition for post-conviction relief, Gardner requested that expert witnesses and an investigator be appointed at state expense to assist him in prosecuting his petition. Gardner challenges the denial of that request on the ground that it denied him the right to the effective assistance of counsel, due process, meaningful access to the courts, and equal protection under the law. Gardner asserts that the requested assistance was essential to demonstrate that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by not giving Dr. Heinbecker time to evaluate Gardner more fully and to prepare his testimony. Utah Code Ann. § 77-32-3 provides for the assignment of counsel at state expense only during the trial proceedings and the first appeal of right or other remedies before or after conviction that the attorney considers to be in the interest of justice. Subsection (2) of § 77-32-3 excludes from the duties of assigned counsel the taking of subsequent discretionary appeals or discretionary writ proceedings: An assigned counsel shall not have the duty or power under this section to represent an indigent defendant in any discretionary appeal or action for a discretionary writ, other than in a meaningful first appeal of right to assure the indigent defendant an adequate opportunity to present his claims fairly in the context of the appellate process of this state. Clearly, if a defendant is not entitled to appointed, state-compensated counsel under that statute in a habeas proceeding, he is not entitled to state-compensated experts and investigators absent a specific statutory provision granting that right. No Utah statute grants a defendant such a right. Furthermore, Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 555-56, 107 S.Ct. 1990, 1993-94, 95 L.Ed.2d 539 (1987), held that a state is not required by due process or equal protection guarantees of access to the courts to provide counsel for indigent prisoners seeking state post-conviction relief. The Court reiterated that position in Murray v. Giarratano, 492 U.S. 1, 10, 109 S.Ct. 2765, 2770-71, 106 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989), with respect to death row inmates. It follows that the denial of state-compensated expert witnesses and investigators in a collateral attack on a conviction does not violate a defendant's federal right to due process, access to the courts, or equal protection. Nevertheless, there may be extraordinary cases in which a petitioner for habeas corpus might be entitled under the Utah Constitution to state-compensated counsel, expert witnesses, or investigators. [5] Gardner has not shown that he could not adequately pursue his habeas claims without appointed investigators and expert witnesses. Although he could not afford to have an evaluation that would establish with greater certitude the exact nature of his organic brain syndrome, Dr. Heinbecker's testimony failed to show any possibility that further testing would have shown any mitigating facts. As noted, Dr. Heinbecker's testimony indicated nothing of significance that he would have done differently if he had been given more time to prepare. We have reviewed the rest of Gardner's claims and find them to be without merit. Gardner is not entitled to a new penalty hearing or appeal. We vacate the trial court's judgment and remand for entry of a judgment consistent with this opinion. HOWE, J., concurs. ZIMMERMAN, C.J., and DURHAM, J., concur in the result. HALL, J., heard oral arguments but retired before he could vote on the case.