Opinion ID: 179034
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dr. Kern

Text: The State called Dr. Paul Kern, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University Health System, Detention Health Care Services. Dr. Kern testified that Joanna 7 Case: 10-70009 Document: 00511289378 Page: 8 Date Filed: 11/09/2010 No. 10-70009 W. Guerrero, a psychometrist with a master’s degree, administered two different intelligence tests and an achievement test to Esparza. Esparza scored in the mildly mentally retarded range on the intelligence tests, and his achievement test score suggested very poor basic academic skills. Dr. Kern interviewed Esparza and interpreted the test scores. Together Dr. Kern and Guerrero compiled a Summary of Intellectual Testing that was submitted to the state court. This report provided that, based on Guerrero’s clinical impression, she estimated Esparza’s intelligence was within the low average range.1 The report provided that Esparza “displayed an extremely low level of motivation while responding to knowledge-based questions, providing a large number of ‘I don’t know’ responses and displaying a strong hesitance to venture guesses.” His responses to knowledge-based questions “were almost always incorrect.” Esparza responded that the current President of the United States was “Ford.” He reported that the United States flag colors are red, white, and green. Based on his responses, it was “strongly suspected that he was intentionally performing below the level of his capabilities.” For example, “it was subsequently learned that although he provided a blatantly incorrect definition of a thermometer during the mental status examination, he had previously provided a correct definition for the same term during the psychological testing.” Esparza performed very poorly on a simple memory task. The examiner noted that “it is rare . . . to see performance as poor as Mr. Esparza’s on the task even among young children with low intelligence and relatively severe Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Also, during the time Esparza was not being asked knowledge-based questions, his presentation “was suggestive of a much higher level of functioning, and a clinical estimate of his intelligence based on both his general presentation and 1 Guerrero did not testify at the hearing. 8 Case: 10-70009 Document: 00511289378 Page: 9 Date Filed: 11/09/2010 No. 10-70009 the available historical information would place it somewhere within the Low Average range.” Dr. Kern testified that Esparza was able to read and understand his rights. Indeed, during one meeting, Esparza stopped the interview and asked for counsel in order to obtain advice regarding whether to cooperate. Esparza retrieved his attorney’s business card from his cell and successfully contacted his attorney. After consulting with counsel, Esparza decided to complete the interview. Dr. Kern testified that Esparza’s presentation during the interview did not appear to be that of a mentally retarded person. Dr. Kern concluded that Esparza’s motivation to do well on the I.Q. tests “was very low” and that the test results were invalid or inaccurate. Esparza’s test score on the Vineland adaptive behavior scale, which had been previously administered by Tussay, indicated that he was profoundly retarded. Dr. Kern explained that a person of that level of intelligence or adaptive behavior “would be capable of doing almost nothing. A profoundly mentally retarded person, for example, would have no hope at all of ever learning language at all. They would have no hope at all of . . . ever having a job, probably. They would not be able to communicate at all.” Such a person “would probably spend their whole life in an institution for the mentally retarded sitting in a corner oblivious to anything.” Dr. Kern explained that a person can test below their intelligence level but not above it. He further testified that I.Q. scores generally do not change over a person’s life. Dr. Kern opined that Esparza’s scores of 88 and 86 in the penitentiary packets were consistent with his clinical assessments regarding Esparza’s functioning. Further, Esparza’s taped phone conversations suggest a higher level of functioning than the current test scores indicate. In Dr. Kern’s opinion, the current test results provide “dramatic underestimates of Mr. Esparza’s knowledge and ability and are best viewed as invalid.” 9 Case: 10-70009 Document: 00511289378 Page: 10 Date Filed: 11/09/2010 No. 10-70009 Dr. Kern also noted that during Esparza’s 2001 trial Dr. Arambula, a forensic psychiatrist, had testified that he did not have Esparza tested for mental retardation because he thought Esparza’s intelligence was “normal.” 2 Dr. Kern is familiar with Dr. Arambula and relied in part upon his opinion in assessing Esparza. Finally, Dr. Kern testified that, based on the test results and his clinical assessments, he did not think that Esparza was mentally retarded. Instead, as set forth in his report, Esparza’s “intellectual capabilities most likely fall somewhere within the Low Average range.”