Opinion ID: 2599880
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motion for Eyewitness Identification Expert (Lewis)

Text: Lewis challenges the pretrial denial of funds to retain an expert witness on eyewitness identification. He insists the ruling violated state law, and that it had the additional legal consequence of violating his right to due process and to present a defense under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, and under parallel provisions of the state Constitution. As explained further below, a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel also is raised. We see no basis for relief. On October 19, 1991, Lewis moved in propria persona under section 987.9 for funds to retain Dr. Elizabeth Loftus as an expert on eyewitness identification. Lewis wanted Dr. Loftus to examine several potential eyewitnesses. At a hearing on October 28, 1991, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner, who was not the trial judge, denied the request. Judge Klausner doubted that Dr. Loftus was available for appointment or that the proposed testimony would be admitted at trial. He realized, however, that those issues were not before him, and that only funding for an identification expert was raised. Judge Klausner ruled that if the trial court decides I.D. testimony would be admissible and says that it is appropriate to [appoint] an I.D. expert, then he would go ahead and appoint him. Hence, Judge Klausner denied the motion without prejudice. It appears that neither Lewis, while acting in propria persona, nor appointed counsel, when later reinstated, sought a ruling from the trial judge on the admissibility of the proposed testimony. Anticipating the Attorney General's forfeiture claim, Lewis suggests it does not matter whether he followed Judge Klausner's advice and sought an advance ruling from the trial judge on the admissibility of the proposed testimony. Rather, in Lewis's view, Judge Klausner's ruling was erroneous because it forced Lewis to litigate admissibility before being able to retain and consult with the expert, and without being able to formulate an offer of proof. Lewis also claims compliance with the funds ruling would have required him to disclose confidential information to the trial court. Finally, Lewis faults counsel for not offering exculpatory expert identification testimony at trial in any event. No prejudicial error or ineffective assistance occurred. Expert testimony on the psychological factors affecting eyewitness identification is often unnecessary. For this reason, the trial court's discretion regulating its use is rarely disturbed. ( People v. McDonald (1984) 37 Cal.3d 351, 377, 208 Cal.Rptr. 236, 690 P.2d 709.) Consistent with these principles, Lewis has not shown that such testimony would have made a difference here. No witness identified the masked perpetrators. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence showing defendants' motive, intent, and opportunity to commit the crime, and their consciousness of guilt afterwards. Oliver called Larry Brown. Oliver stressed that neither Brown nor Melvin or Ruth Johnson was able to identify defendants. The record does not show what additional exculpatory inferences could have been drawn if an expert had testified. We reject the claim.