Court Opinion

ID: 9496254
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 16:21:45.029525+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:57:27.439803
License: Public Domain

GREGORY, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the judgment.
I concur with the majority’s conclusion that petitioner has failed to demonstrate that the state court’s rulings were “contrary to or involved an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States.” 28 U.S.C.A. § 2254(d)(1) (West 2003); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 402-03, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). I write separately to emphasize the requirements of Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 82, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985).
Under Ake, “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.” Ake, 470 U.S. at 83, 105 5.Ct. 1087. The Supreme Court emphasized that assisting in the preparation of a defense includes, but is not limited to: 1) examining the defendant; 2) testifying on his behalf; 3) helping determine the viability of an insanity defense; and 4) assisting in the preparation of the cross-examination of the State’s psychiatric witness. Ake, 470 U.S. at 82, 105 S.Ct. 1087.
Because the State must “assure” a defendant has access to a mental health expert, we must consider all relevant factors to determine whether such access has been assured. The mere presence of one or multiple mental health experts does not satisfy Ake. See, e.g., United States v. Crews, 781 F.2d 826 (10th Cir.1986) (finding that a defendant was entitled to the appointment of a psychiatrist, despite the fact that he was examined by four treating or court-appointed psychiatrists, all of whom testified to his mental condition). Regardless of whether a defendant has *421access to one or multiple mental health experts, when those experts cannot individually or collectively fulfill, at a minimum, the duties contemplated by Ake, it is the State’s responsibility to provide the defendant with a mental health expert who can provide the requisite assistance. Here, petitioner alleges that he did not receive the assistance of a mental health expert as required by Ake, but fails to show how his existing mental health experts were unable to satisfy Ake’s requirements. Because there is no evidence in the record demonstrating that petitioner’s mental health experts could not provide the requisite assistance, I concur in the majority’s decision.