Opinion ID: 533847
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Appoint an Independent Psychiatric Examiner

Text: 35 Finally, defendant claims that the district court erred when it failed to find a constitutional violation in the state trial court's refusal to appoint an independent psychiatrist to determine Thomas' sanity at the time he committed the offense. Defendant emphasizes the fact that Dr. Herbert Eber, in May, 1977, prior to Thomas' first trial, wrote a report which stated that defendant was insane during the commission of the offense and at the time of trial. Defendant argues that the state trial judge should have granted defendant's motion for an independent examination because of the existence of Dr. Eber's report diagnosing Thomas as insane and incompetent. 36 Defendant relies on Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), to support his argument that the trial judge committed a constitutional violation by failing to appoint an independent psychiatrist. We find defendant's reliance misplaced. In Ake, the defendant had been so unstable prior to his trial that the trial court sua sponte ordered him to be examined by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist recommended that Ake be sent to an institution to determine if he was competent to stand trial. Psychiatrists at the institution found Ake incompetent, but rehabilitated him to the point of competency after six weeks. In a pretrial conference, Ake's attorney informed the court that Ake would use the insanity defense, but the court denied appointment of a psychiatrist. The Supreme Court held that when a defendant demonstrates to the trial judge that his sanity at the time of the offense is to be a significant factor at trial, the State must, at a minimum, assure the defendant access to a competent psychiatrist who will conduct an appropriate examination and assist in evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the defense. Id. at 83, 105 S.Ct. at 1096. 37 This case differs significantly from Ake. Whereas the court in Ake was fully apprised of Ake's mental instability from the outset, the court in the instant case was totally unaware of mental problems Thomas might have been encountering. Nowhere does the record show that Dr. Eber's report 1 , which found Thomas incompetent and insane, was presented to the trial court. Further, counsel for Thomas never complained about difficulties communicating or cooperating with Thomas. Additionally, the trial court engaged in a discussion with Thomas which indicated that Thomas was indeed competent. 2 Finally, the trial judge had two other reports before it, one from a social worker stating that Dr. Blankenship examined Thomas at the Jefferson County jail and found him competent, and another from Searcy Hospital averring that examinations revealed defendant's competence. The trial judge simply had nothing before him that indicated Thomas could be insane. Consequently, as we are to evaluate the actions of the trial judge based on the evidence presented to him, we conclude that defendant failed to demonstrate a substantial basis for the insanity defense. See e.g. Messer v. Kemp, 831 F.2d 946 (11th Cir.1987) (en banc) (defendant receives fair trial if information before trial judge does not demonstrate a substantial basis for the insanity defense), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1029, 108 S.Ct. 1586, 99 L.Ed.2d 902 (1988). Consequently, we cannot conclude that the state trial judge violated Thomas' constitutional rights by denying his motion to appoint an independent psychiatric examiner.