Opinion ID: 2543365
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Expert's Conflict of Interest

Text: ¶ 21 We review this allegation on the merits to ensure that substantial justice is done. See, e.g., Codianna, 660 P.2d at 1114-16. In Carter's petition, he asserts that the mental health expert, Dr. Robert Howell, who presented mitigation evidence on Carter's behalf at the 1992 penalty hearing, had an insurmountable conflict of interest that deprived Carter of his constitutional rights. In 1985, shortly after the crime, Dr. Howell prepared a psychological profile of the not-yet-identified perpetrator of the crime. Carter argues that his constitutional rights were violated because Dr. Howell did not disclose this to him before he testified on Carter's behalf in 1992. Carter also alleges that Dr. Howell was not qualified to examine him and that Dr. Howell's examination and evaluation of him were wholly inadequate. ¶ 22 The district court dismissed this claim, finding that at most, Dr. Howell's conflicted status was harmless error. The district court pointed out that Dr. Howell was amply qualified to testify as a mitigation witness on Carter's behalf. He had distinguished training, expertise, and experience in forensic psychology. Furthermore, Dr. Howell's evaluation, examination, and mitigation testimony were significant, helpful and entirely appropriate. Dr. Howell addressed Carter's alleged organic cerebral dysfunction, a head injury he suffered as a child, his history of alcohol and drug abuse, and his lack of a consistent father figure. As for Dr. Howell's conflict of interest, the district court explained that Dr. Howell should have disclosed his prior involvement in the case to Carter, and that his failure to do so may have been a violation of professional psychiatric standards; however, the court found Dr. Howell's mitigation testimony entirely appropriate and his failure to disclose his prior involvement to be of no legal consequence. ¶ 23 The district court was correct in dismissing this claim. Although Dr. Howell should have disclosed his prior involvement with the case, Carter has demonstrated no prejudice that resulted from his failure to do so. Carter has not shown that there was other mitigation evidence that a conflict-free expert would have discovered and attested to at trial. As the district court found, Dr. Howell presented appropriate mitigation testimony. Because Carter has presented this court with nothing that shows that there is a reasonable probability of a different outcome had a conflict-free expert provided mitigation testimony, we conclude that the district court properly dismissed this claim.