Court Opinion

ID: 9712335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:51:48.116025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:11.594125
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion by
Mr. Justice Roberts:
I concur in the result reached by the majority, but I cannot accept much of its reasoning, and I do not join in its opinion.
Most particularly, I cannot accept the majority’s conclusion that the failure to give appellant’s counsel notice of the psychiatric examination as required by the Pa. Rules of Criminal Procedure 304-307 was excused by the fact that the examination was not instigated by the district attorney. I do not find that fact to be in the least bit relevant, and I see nothing in the Rules to support the distinction which the majority sees between an examination requested by the district attorney and one requested by a prison psychiatrist. What the majority has done, in reality, is to provide a convenient mechanism for the Commonwealth to consistently and completely circumvent the notice requirements of the Criminal Rules. As long as the district attorney makes sure he “knows nothing,” no notice need be given to counsel under the majority’s theory.
*549In my view, appellant’s counsel could have successfully moved to suppress the psychiatric report obtained in violation of the Criminal Rules had he chosen to do so. This, however, was not the strategy utilized. Instead, counsel requested and received a hearing at which the psychiatrists who prepared the report testified and were cross-examined. At the conclusion of the testimony, counsel did not dispute the findings of the doctors, but instead made their testimony the basis for his argument. Counsel at that point argued to the trial court that “if there existed any doubt in your mind concerning the mental ability of the defendant to cooperate with his counsel in the past or to presently cooperate with his counsel, such doubt has been firmly resolved after hearing his [this?] testimony. I think that it would do little purpose for me to repeat what the doctors have to say.” Under these facts, I do not see how appellant was prejudiced by the failure of his attorney to receive notice of the psychiatric examination, and although I strongly disapprove of the violation of our Criminal Rules, I do not think that a reversal is warranted in this case. Cf. United States ex rel. Wax v. Pate, 409 F. 2d 498 (7th Cir. 1969).
I also believe that under United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 227-28, 87 S. Ct. 1926, 1932-33 (1967), counsel was not constitutionally required at the psychiatric examination because this is the type of event involving “scientific analyzing” at which there is “minimal risk that his [appellant’s] counsel’s absence . . . might derogate from his right to a fair trial.” As long as an accused is taking psychiatric or psychological tests, or is being interviewed about life experiences by a psychiatrist, there is little a lawyer can do; the inquiry at that point is solely scientific. It is possible, of course, that the examination can also result in the eliciting of incriminatory statements, in *550which case, it' is a critical stage and counsel is necessary. Cf. White v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 59, 83 S. Ct. 1050 (1963) (preliminary hearing is critical stage where incriminating statements later used at trial are elieited therein).. That claim, however, is not made in this case.
■ I cannot accept the majority’s facile statement that counsel was not necessary at the psychiatric examination because in an inquiry into competency, appellant had “nothing to lose.” Were we dealing with a competency hearing, at which both sides were entitled to produce psychiatric evidence to support their positions, I have no- doubt that counsel should be required, even though the-accused would there too have “nothing to lose.” Obviously if a result is reached contrary to the one the-accused favors, he has “lost” something. Here however, there was no competency hearing. The hearing that was held, at which appellant’s counsel accepted the psychiatric report, was in actuality a hearing on appellant’s request for bail and a continuance. Counsel was present at that hearing in any case. Since counsel was not necessary at the psychiatric examination under Wade, I do net believe that appellant has any grounds for relief on this claim either.
Mr. Justice O’Brien joins in this opinion.