Opinion ID: 1735130
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether the trial court erred when it denied the defendant a continuance to procure a population geneticist.

Text: ¶ 22. Baldwin's second assignment of error is an extension of his first. Here Baldwin argues, that he should have been granted a continuance in order to procure an expert to challenge the population statistics relied upon by Montgomery in making her population frequency conclusion. In his brief, Baldwin alleges that Dr. Stephen Case, the DNA expert chosen by the defendant and appointed by the court to aid in his defense, had no expertise in population genetics and was not able to assist Baldwin in preparation of his defense in the area of population genetics. ¶ 23. Baldwin alleges that Hull necessitates the admission of population statistics evidence. In Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214 (Miss.1999), this Court specifically noted that it was not an abuse of discretion for a circuit court to allow evidence of DNA matching without requiring statistical analysis of the match (citing Polk v. State, 612 So.2d 381, 390 (Miss.1992)). ¶ 24. In considering this assignment of error, it is important to note that the trial judge agreed that Baldwin could have another expert to address the population statistics, including the underlying data used to determine population frequency. Defense counsel requested the appointment of the additional expert on June 26, 1998. On June 29, 1998, at a hearing on the motion for continuance, the trial judge noted in his ruling that he had already agreed that Baldwin could have another expert. He further stated that defense counsel had assured him he would attempt to contact statisticians at Mississippi State University to assist counsel in cross-examination of Montgomery, but that counsel had made insufficient efforts to locate and obtain an expert. Nevertheless, the judge ruled that Baldwin would still be allowed to present another expert, as long as that was done before the date of trial, scheduled on July 7, 1998. ¶ 25. In denying the motion for a continuance, the judge went on to point out that defense counsel had been involved in the case for over a year and had known for some time prior to the late motion for a continuance that Montgomery would testify concerning the population statistics. [1] Most importantly, the venue had been changed and the trial arranged to begin in Harrison County on July 7, 1998, a mere eight days after Baldwin's motion for a continuance. Baldwin's counsel suggested during the hearing that it would take them three to six months to obtain expert testimony to challenge the population statistics. Given the change of venue and the considerable arrangements that must have attended the setting of a trial date, as well as the fact that the motion for a continuance was made so close to the date of trial, it does not appear that the judge abused his discretion in denying the motion. In light of the fact that the trial judge allowed for an additional expert for Baldwin if he had procured such in a timely fashion, no manifest injustice resulted. ¶ 26. By extension, there is no indication that the Baldwin's proposed experts on population genetics could have refuted or successfully challenged Montgomery's testimony in this case. Baldwin's attempts to discredit Montgomery's testimony by challenging the population data forming the basis of her expert opinion amounts to no more than the battle of the experts, which has become increasingly common in both criminal and civil litigation. Given unlimited time and money, there is no end to the amount of expert testimony that a criminal defendant could obtain. By contrast, the State would have the same opportunity. Even if Baldwin had secured another expert on population statistics, the State could then have secured its own expert. In light of the excess of time and money attendant to the battle of the experts, it is even more apparent that no manifest injustice resulted from the denial of a continuance, particularly since there is no showing that such an expert could have assisted the trier of fact.