Opinion ID: 1350499
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Issues Relating to Evidentiary Rulings

Text: (9) Defendant first complains of an order barring proposed testimony by Dr. Dean J. Clair, a prison psychologist, who would apparently have summarized certain prison records and concluded that defendant's behavior in confinement had been good. At the threshold the court ruled that the defense might show the defendant's past [prison] performance and present [prison performance] on the relevant issue of background.... The parties, however, disputed whether Dr. Clair's opinion and the records on which it was based were supported by an adequate evidentiary foundation for admission. Eventually, however, they settled their dispute in its entirety by waiving foundational requirements for certain prison records and thereby withdrew the issue from the court's consideration. It is true that Dr. Clair did not testify concerning defendant's past behavior in prison or any other matter. But his failure to do so was attributable solely to a decision on the part of the defense and not to any order by the court. Accordingly, we reject the claim of error. (10) Defendant next complains of a ruling barring evidence to show that his future behavior in prison would be good. The ruling was erroneous. In Skipper v. South Carolina (1986) 476 U.S. 1 [90 L.Ed.2d 1, 106 S.Ct. 1669], the United States Supreme Court held: [E]vidence that the defendant would not pose a danger if spared (but incarcerated) must be considered potentially mitigating. Under Eddings [v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104 (1982) (71 L.Ed.2d 1, 102 S.Ct. 869)], such evidence may not be excluded from the sentencer's consideration. (476 U.S. at p. 5 [90 L.Ed.2d at p. 7], fn. omitted.) The Attorney General attempts to characterize the ruling as a narrow and proper determination barring as incompetent Dr. Clair's proposed expert testimony on defendant's future behavior. The record, however, is otherwise. The court's words are clear: It would be the intent of the Court to prevent the prosecution to show any future crimes in prison, and in light of that position of the Court, it seems to be it would then be inappropriate for the defense to show the unlikelihood of committing future crimes in or out of prison. We must now decide whether the error requires reversal. As we recently held in People v. Lucero (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1006, 1031-1032 [245 Cal. Rptr. 185, 750 P.2d 1342], Skipper error is subject to review under the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt test of Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18 [17 L.Ed.2d 705, 87 S.Ct. 824, 24 A.L.R.3d 1065]. Accordingly, we apply that test here. Dr. Clair would apparently have testified to the effect that, in the words of Skipper, defendant would not pose a danger if spared (but incarcerated).... (476 U.S. at p. 5 [90 L.Ed.2d at p. 7].) We shall assume arguendo that expert predictions that persons will not commit future acts of violence are admissible at the penalty phase. (But cf. People v. Murtishaw (1981) 29 Cal.3d 733, 767 [175 Cal. Rptr. 738, 631 P.2d 446] [holding inadmissible expert predictions that persons will commit future acts of violence (italics added)].) Although we do not discount the potentially mitigating effect of testimony that a defendant would not pose a danger if sentenced to prison, on this record the ruling barring such testimony was not prejudicial. The evidence in aggravation was overwhelming and the evidence in mitigation was minimal. Further, the improperly excluded testimony would have had no marginal effect on the balance of aggravating and mitigating factors. Accordingly, we conclude that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. [1] (11) Defendant also complains of the admission of (1) testimony by a former friend that in 1971 defendant remarked that the restroom in a certain church in Ventura would be a good place to commit rape; (2) testimony by another former friend that in 1971 defendant asked him to accompany him to Santa Barbara to commit rape; (3) testimony by the same person that following his arrest in that same year for the rape of Jodi W. defendant attempted to enlist his aid in a nonviolent attempt to escape from jail; (4) a letter written by defendant in jail before commencement of trial in this matter stating, Well, I have made up my mind, I tried to do good while I was out there, but next time I get out I'll not try to do right; (5) testimony by a deputy sheriff that apparently not long before trial began defendant said that under certain circumstances he would shoot a police officer; and (6) testimony by another deputy sheriff that after trial began defendant said he would make an escape and the escape would not be nonviolent. The admission of the six items, whether considered separately or together, did not amount to error requiring reversal. We shall assume arguendo that the claim is preserved for review. We also assume that each of the items was inadmissible under People v. Boyd (1985) 38 Cal.3d 762, 772-776 [215 Cal. Rptr. 1, 700 P.2d 782], as irrelevant to any of the sentencing factors specified in Penal Code section 190.3 (hereafter section 190.3): each appears irrelevant to the only factor potentially available  (b) The presence or absence of criminal activity by the defendant which involved the use or attempted use of force or violence or the express or implied threat to use force or violence  since each seems either noncriminal or nonviolent or both. But even if error was committed, it was nonprejudicial. Again, the evidence in aggravation was overwhelming and the evidence in mitigation was minimal, and the evidence claimed to have been improperly admitted would have had no marginal effect on the balance of aggravating and mitigating factors. We conclude that the error, if such it be, would have been harmless under any standard. (12) Finally, defendant complains of the admission of evidence relating to the facts underlying several of his prior felony convictions. He argues that when as here evidence of the convictions has been introduced, evidence of the facts should not be admitted. In People v. Gates (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1168, 1203 [240 Cal. Rptr. 666, 743 P.2d 301], however, we found a similar argument wanting.