Opinion ID: 1135325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Testimony Regarding Patricia L.'s Inability to Testify at Trial

Text: Patricia L. did not testify at trial because, according to her psychologist, Patricia Bay of Children's Protective Services, she would suffer long-term psychological trauma if she did testify. Bay is a practicing marriage and family therapist with a master's degree in psychology. Ms. Bay testified that Patricia would vacillate when asked if she wanted to appear in court. Bay indicated that a week or so after Patricia was told she would have to testify, her behavior became aggressive and erratic and she hit a classmate without provocation. Bay attributes this conduct to Patricia being informed she had to testify. According to Bay, when Patricia was told that she would not have to testify, she seemed to settle down. But then she would indicate that she wanted to testify, and Bay would explain what would happen to her if she did testify. And we'd talk about it a little bit. And I'd say, Well, let's pretend that you're going to testify for a minute and you're going to walk in the courtroom. I have a doll house courtroom and we would go and play with the courtroom and talk about how she'd walk in and where she'd sit and where all the participants would be. Bay always told Patricia that Felix would be present since that is what Bay was told by the prosecuting attorney. The reason Patricia gave to Bay for not wanting to testify was that [s]he didn't want to sit in front of Martha. She didn't want Martha to look at her. The court accepted the testimony of Patricia's parents that they believed Patricia's testifying would have an adverse effect upon her, and the court also accepted Bay's prognosis of long-term trauma. The court ruled that Patricia would not be required to testify and that she would be considered unable to do so.