Opinion ID: 1863013
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Claim V. Mental Health Evaluation

Text: In this claim Johnson alleges that he was unconstitutionally denied his rights under Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), by counsel's failure to obtain an adequate mental health evaluation. Johnson also argues in this claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to obtain the proper type of mental health experts and by failing to provide the experts with information regarding Johnson's background and family history. As discussed in this opinion in claim IV, Johnson has not shown that counsel was deficient for failing to pursue additional testimony of Johnson's family. As to the remaining issues, the circuit court found: The primary allegation is that counsel failed to present evidence of organic brain damage to the jury. A review of the record indicates that the defendant was evaluated by three mental health experts, Doctors McClane, Afield and Ainesworth. All three men are psychiatrists. The doctors indicated that they had reviewed the case file, taken a medical and life history from the defendant, and had reviewed some materials furnished by defense counsel. While the doctors disagreed as to whether the defendant met the legal test for insanity, all three agreed that the defendant suffered from a severe mental or emotional disturbance due to amphetamine intoxication and that his ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was impaired. At the evidentiary hearing, Dr. Brad Fisher, a clinical forensic psychologist, testified for the defendant. Dr. Fisher evaluated the defendant almost 15 years after the crimes occurred. He met with the defendant two times, reviewed the case file, school, prison and police records of the defendant and met with the defendant's mother and brother. Dr. Fisher testified that he did not disagree with the mental health experts who testified at the 1988 trial. He believes that the defendant suffers from toxic psychosis and did so during the crimes. His opinion is that the defendant suffered from an extreme mental disturbance and his ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired. The only difference in Dr. Fisher's diagnosis of the defendant is that he believes the defendant suffers from organic brain damage due to extensive drug use. None of the prior mental health experts testified to any organic brain damage. The defendant argues that had trial counsel provided the mental health experts with the same materials that CCR provided Dr. Fisher, they would have either diagnosed organic brain damage or would have recommended additional testing by a psychologist. The court finds, however, that even if the defendant did suffer from organic brain damage and this evidence was presented to the judge and jury, the result would not have changed. The ultimate opinions of the doctors on the defendant's ability to conform his conduct are consistent and were presented to the jury. The defense presented three competent mental health experts. Based upon a review of the trial transcripts and the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing, the court is confident that Dr. Fisher's finding of organic brain damage is not of such import that it would have changed the jury's verdict or recommendation. There has been no showing that the attorneys' conduct was ineffective in hiring the experts or in the material furnished. There also has been no showing that the mental health experts were ineffective. The defendant seems to argue that because his expert reached a different result that res ipsa, someone was ineffective. State v. Johnson order at 11-12, (footnote omitted). Ake requires that a defendant have access to a competent psychiatrist who will conduct an appropriate examination and assist in evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the defense. 470 U.S. at 83, 105 S.Ct. 1087. The experts who testified at the evidentiary hearing agreed with the experts who testified for Johnson at his trial. The experts who testified at trial based their conclusions on interviews with Johnson that included information of his family history, drug abuse, and past psychotic episode. No deficiency was shown in their examinations, nor has Johnson shown any deficiency on the part of counsel in hiring or providing information to these experts. Johnson's experts performed all the essential tasks required by Ake, and Johnson has not shown any violation. Accordingly, we find no merit in this claim.