Opinion ID: 2570569
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: W.R.Cr.P. 16(b)(1)(B) and W.R.Cr.P. 26.2(a)

Text: Wendy contends that W.R.Cr.P. 16(b)(1)(B) and W.R.Cr.P. 26.2(a) did not mandate disclosure of the social worker's notes and interviews. The trial court has broad discretion in controlling discovery. Nowotny v. L & B Contract Industries, Inc., 933 P.2d 452, 461 (Wyo.1997). In Vaughn v. State, 962 P.2d 149, 151 (Wyo.1998) (quoting Martin v. State, 720 P.2d 894, 897 (Wyo. 1986)), we said: `Judicial discretion is a composite of many things, among which are conclusions drawn from objective criteria; it means a sound judgment exercised with regard to what is right under the circumstances and without doing so arbitrarily or capriciously.' W.R.Cr.P. 16(b)(1)(B) states: (B) Reports of examinations and tests. If the defendant demands disclosure under subdivision (a)(1)(C) or (a)(1)(D), upon compliance with such demand by the state, the defendant, on demand of the state, shall permit the state to inspect and copy or photograph any results or reports of physical or mental examinations and of scientific tests or experiments made in connection with the particular case, or copies thereof, within the possession or control of the defendant, which the defendant intends to introduce as evidence in chief at the trial or which were prepared by a witness whom the defendant intends to call at the trial when the results or reports relate to that witness's testimony. W.R.Cr.P. 26.2(a) states: (a) Order for production. Upon order of the court, the attorney for the state or the defendant and the defendant's attorney shall produce for the examination and use of the other party, any written or recorded statement of a witness other than the defendant in their possession or which they may reasonably obtain and which relates to the subject matter about which the witness has testified or will testify and: (1) Upon demand of the other party, the court shall order the statement to be produced after a witness has testified; and (2) Upon motion of a party or upon its own motion, the court may require the statement to be produced at any time before trial. Wendy concedes that, once the social worker was designated as an expert, her results or reports were discoverable under W.R.Cr.P. 16(b)(1)(B) and W.R.Cr.P. 26.2(a). She argues, however, that the prosecution's right to discovery did not extend to the social worker's notes from interviews or conversations with her. The state maintains that the trial judge properly gave it access to the social worker's notes, especially in light of Wendy's failure to produce a report of any substance. We do not need to address whether the notes fall under the rubric of W.R.Cr.P. 16(b)(1)(B) and W.R.Cr.P. 26.2(a) because the record does not include a copy of the report or the notes. Without copies of the report or the notes in question, we are unable to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in Wendy's case. The appellant has the burden to prove abuse of discretion and the burden to provide an adequate record on appeal. Clark v. Alexander, 953 P.2d 145, 150 (Wyo.1998); Stadtfeld v. Stadtfeld, 920 P.2d 662, 664 (Wyo.1996). Given Wendy's failure to provide us with a copy of the social worker's notes or the report, we have no choice but to affirm the trial court's decision to allow discovery of the notes pursuant to the relevant rules of criminal procedure.