Opinion ID: 2276886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Cross-Examination of Latifah Johnson

Text: Prior to Appellant's trial, Appellant requested that he be allowed to review Latifah Johnson's mental health evaluation that was done after she pled not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in a juvenile proceeding. The State objected and argued that Ark.Code Ann. § 9-27-352 (Repl.2008) prohibited releasing the medical records of a juvenile. The circuit court sustained the State's objection. The circuit court also sustained the State's objection when Appellant sought to question Latifah about her statement to the detective that she was bipolar. On appeal, Appellant alleges that, under Rules 401, 402, and 403 of Arkansas Rules of Evidence, Appellant has a wide latitude to impeach the credibility of Latifah Johnson; and within that latitude are questions as to whether she believed that she was suffering from a mental illness and what medications she was taking for that illness. Appellant argues that these questions go to the heart of Latifah's credibility as a witness and the circuit court erred in refusing to allow cross-examination about her mental health. With regard to the disclosure of Latifah's mental health evaluation, Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-27-352(a)(4) provides, in relevant part, that [m]edical records, psychiatric records, psychological records, and information related thereto shall remain confidential unless the juvenile's parents or legal guardian waives confidentiality in writing specifically describing the records to be disclosed between the persons listed in subdivision (c)(1) of this section and the purpose for the disclosure. Ark.Code Ann. § 9-27-352(a)(4) (Repl.2008). Appellant does not dispute Latifah's status as a juvenile. [2] It is therefore clear that section 9-27-352 precludes the release of the mental evaluation. In ruling that Appellant could not question Latifah about her statement that she was bipolar, the circuit court concluded that her competency was not at issue. In other words, the court determined that Latifah was competent to testify as a witness. A decision about the competency of a witness lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Modlin v. State, 353 Ark. 94, 110 S.W.3d 727 (2003). This is so because the competency issue is one in which the trial judge's evaluation is particularly important due to the opportunity he or she is afforded to observe the witness and the testimony. Id. This court will not find an abuse of discretion in allowing a witness to testify as long as the record in the case is one upon which the trial judge could find a moral awareness of the obligation to tell the truth and an ability to observe, remember and relate facts. Id. The credibility of a witness may be challenged by proving that he or she is subject to insane delusions, or that her mind and memory have become impaired by disease or other causes. Lomax v. State, 248 Ark. 534, 452 S.W.2d 646 (1970). In this case, Appellant presented no evidence showing that Latifah was subject to insane delusions or that her ability to perceive and remember was impaired. Thus, we conclude that the circuit court's competency ruling was not an abuse of discretion.