Opinion ID: 2639434
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Adequacy of Counsel's Performance

Text: The referee concluded that Darlene and other witnesses, such as Darlene's family and friends, would not have talked to Forester prior to trial. He concluded that, based on the law at that time, the defense would not have been able to obtain Darlene's county mental health or psychiatric records (or a psychiatric examination). He also concluded that Forester was under no obligation to hire a police interrogation expert to undermine a prosecution witness's testimony. However, the referee believed that Forester's investigation was inadequate because he failed to obtain Darlene's school records, which were available pursuant to the Education Code. (Ed.Code, §§ 49076-49078.) These records contained information that Darlene had a low IQ (in 1984, Darlene had a verbal IQ of 72), believed in mystic control, believed she had supernatural powers, and had a vivid imagination. The referee concluded that this information should have been available to the jury in considering Darlene's credibility. Forester would then have had sufficient reason to hire a psychiatric expert to potentially exploit this information. Forester's main investigative deficiency, stated the referee, was not having the tapes of the interviews transcribed, as they constituted a goldmine for investigation of credibility. For example, the tapes showed that Darlene told the deputies 15 to 20 times that petitioner did not confess, and it was only when Darlene was threatened with arrest at the December 4 interview that she produced a confession. The tapes also showed that Darlene was suggestible; that there were several versions of the confession; and that she was often prompted by the deputies or her mother. The referee believed that Forester's belief that Darlene was an accomplice was based on an inadequate investigation, was contrary to known facts, and should not have precluded him from obtaining school records or obtaining a transcript of the November 9 and December 4 interrogations. The referee also found that the reports did not adequately summarize the tapes, and that Forester should have cross-examined the sheriffs deputies on the arrest threat.