Opinion ID: 2637435
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the designated examiner

Text: [¶ 15] Appellant contends that the prosecution's designated mental health examiner, Paul C. Jennings, Ph.D., was not qualified under Wyoming law. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-301(a)(i) (LEXIS 1999) provides as follows: `Designated examiner' means a licensed psychiatrist, or other physician with forensic training or a licensed psychologist with forensic training. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-305(c) (LEXIS 1999) states: Only the designated examiners who examined the defendant pursuant to W.S. §§ 7-11-303 or 7-11-304 are competent witnesses to testify as to the defendant's mental responsibility. [¶ 16] As Dr. Jennings is a licensed psychologist, Appellant contends that he lacked the required forensic training and was, therefore, not competent to testify. However, the evidence does not support this contention. The uncontradicted testimony was that Dr. Jennings had testified in court a number of times before coming to the Wyoming State Hospital in 1989. He spent his first three and one-half years at the Wyoming State Hospital writing forensic reports. He has written letters to trial courts regarding his mental competency examinations. He has performed psychological testing for forensic psychiatrists and has served as a court-appointed examiner. He has attended four annual workshops in Utah for the purpose of qualifying or certifying forensic examiners. He has been authorized by the State of Utah to conduct forensic examinations. He has attended monthly meetings of psychologists and psychiatrists in Utah. [¶ 17] It is clear that Dr. Jennings has forensic training and meets the statutory requirement. Therefore, he was competent to testify regarding Appellant's mental status.