Court Opinion

ID: 9775751
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:08:25.912899+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:30.809052
License: Public Domain

WINTERSHEIMER, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion because Turner was not entitled to have his own expert conduct a second physical examination of the four-year-old victim.
The majority opinion is on extremely shaky ground in my opinion because it clearly admits that there is not a specific *562rule concerning physical examination of a prosecuting witness which is directly applicable to this case. Consequently, I can see no legal or logical reason for subjecting this prosecuting witness to further harassment. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing the defendant’s motion. The majority opinion contains no citation to any Kentucky authority or any other legal authority. It is simply a substitution by a reviewing court of its view of the trial situation for that of the trial judge. There is no basis for such a substitution.
As the majority admits, CR 35.01 provides for a mental of physical examination of a party or a person under the custody or control of a party. This rule is not applicable to this situation. Cf Wagner v. Commonwealth, Ky., 581 S.W.2d 352 (1979).
The defendant received all that he was entitled to under RCr 7.24(1), (2). Prior to trial, he received all results and reports of physical or mental examinations and of scientific tests or experiments made in connection with the prosecution. He had every opportunity to review the examination procedures and findings of the testifying prosecution physician. The defense is surely entitled to an opportunity for effective cross-examination but not cross-examination to every extent the defense might wish. Delaware v. Fensterer, 474 U.S. 15, 106 S.Ct. 292, 88 L.Ed.2d 15 (1985). A review of the record indicates a thorough and extensive cross-examination by defense counsel. There was nothing to prevent the defendant from having his own expert testify at trial in an attempt to impeach the prosecution witness.
The defendant is not seeking the testimony of medical personnel who have already examined the child for treatment; he seeks examination for the purpose of obtaining evidence and testimony for use at trial. There is no authority to support such a request. Mosley v. Commonwealth, Ky., 420 S.W.2d 679 (1967) does not support the argument of the defendants. Even if a defendant might be entitled to have his own expert examine a child victim, such examination should be allowed only when there is a substantial showing of need or justification or other good cause pursuant to CR 35.01. That is not the situation in this case. The trial court is not to allow a defendant to go on a fishing expedition that would expose the child victim to additional trauma by means of a second physical examination.
I am persuaded by the legal reasoning of the West Virginia Supreme Court when it determined that “child victims of sexual abuse doubtless have undergone a horrifying experience. For that reason it is necessary to assure the child a modicum of protection.” Burdette v. Lobban, 323 S.E.2d 601 (W.Va., 1984). Certainly the accused has the right to employ all the constitutional guarantees in order to defend himself. But by the same token the child victim also has rights to be protected against unrestrained and unnecessary private examination by adverse interests. Burdette, supra. I cannot agree with the majority when it observes that the rights of the accused in this case should outweigh the rights of the innocent victim. There must be a balance between the rights of competing interests and the assessment of the validity of such a balance is best left in the sound discretion of the trial court who has the opportunity to observe all the circumstances surrounding the trial of a case.
Equal justice under law for all is not just a legal cliché. It must have meaning for all persons regardless of gender or age. It is the absolute obligation of reviewing courts as well as trial courts to be fair and to balance all competing rights and interests so as to produce a just result.