Court Opinion

ID: 2888448
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 20:08:26.657207+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:30.006173
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-03-0032-CR

                                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                         FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                          AT AMARILLO

                                             PANEL E

                                    SEPTEMBER 2, 2003
                             ______________________________

                                        GARRY LEE, JR.,

                                                              Appellant

                                                  v.

                                    THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                                  Appellee
                          _________________________________

           FROM THE 284TH DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY;

              NO. 01-09-05707-CR; HON. PUTNAM K. REITER, PRESIDING
                         _______________________________

                                        Opinion
                            _______________________________

Before QUINN and REAVIS, JJ., and BOYD, S.J.1

       Through one issue, appellant Garry Lee, Jr., appeals his conviction for aggravated

robbery. He contends that the trial court committed reversible error when it denied his

motion for the appointment of a psychologist to aid in his defense. We affirm the judgment.

       1
       John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment. Tex. Gov’t
Code Ann. §75.002(a)(1) (Vernon 1998).
       Whether an expert should be appointed to assist an indigent defendant lies within

the sound discretion of the trial court. Wunneburger v. State, 844 S.W.2d 864, 868 (Tex.

App.--Amarillo 1992, pet. ref’d). Thus, its decision will not be disturbed unless it falls

outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 391

(Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (stating that a trial court acts within its discretion “as long as . . .

the ruling was . . . within the zone of reasonable disagreement”).

       Next, it is clear that a trial court need not appoint an expert unless the defendant

has made a sufficient threshold showing of need. Griffith v. State, 983 S.W.2d 282, 286-87

(Tex. Crim. App. 1998), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 826, 120 S. Ct. 77, 145 L. Ed. 2d 65 (1999).

This requires the defendant to preliminarily establish that the issue for which he seeks

expert assistance is likely to be a significant factor at trial. Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68,

82-83, 105 S. Ct. 1087, 1096, 84 L. Ed. 2d 53 (1985); Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186,

192 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d 333, 339 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

Moreover, to satisfy this burden, the defendant must do more than simply offer

undeveloped assertions that the requested help would be beneficial. Williams v. State,
958 S.W.2d at 192. Instead, he must explain why the expert assistance is needed. This

obligates him, at the very least, to either disclose his defensive theory and explain why

expert assistance would be helpful in establishing it or show that there is a reason to

question the State’s expert and proof. See id. (noting that motions for the appointment of

expert assistance are most often denied because the movant failed to present evidence

in support of his defensive theory, explain what his theory was and why expert assistance

                                              2
would help establish it, or show that there was a reason to question the State’s expert or

its proof); Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d at 341 (noting the same).

        Here, appellant attempted to justify the appointment of a psychologist by asserting

that 1) “[a]lthough it is too early to tell exactly what the facts are and/or what defensive

issues may be raised . . . it is clear that the services of a Psychologist will be needed,” 2)

“[t]he undersigned counsel needs to be in a position to consult with a Psychologist early

on to determine what defensive/punishment issues may exist in this case,” 3) “counsel . . .

cannot testify and therefore needs the assistance of a Psychologist in the development of

the case,” 4) “this Psychologist is needed to conduct psychological evaluations and assist

counsel in [the] presentation of the . . . [appellant’s] defense,” 5) the psychologist “has

spoken with counsel . . . and indicated that she is willing to assist in the defense of this

matter,” 6) the “value of [the] Psychologist’s assistance is incalculable in a case of this

magnitude,” 7) “[c]ounsel would best have the assistance of a Psychologist . . . so as to

help the jury understand the punishment issues in the event of conviction,” and 8) the

“appointment of this expert will ‘level the playing field’ and give appellant ‘access to a

competent expert who can assist in the evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the

defense.’” (Emphasis added). Absent from these justifications is any explanation of the

particular defensive theory for which the assistance of an expert was needed. Indeed, as

revealed by the matter which we italicized, appellant had yet to select or uncover a

defensive theory but sought the help of a psychologist to find one.2 Nor did he specify any

        2
        To the extent that appellant believed consultation with a psychologist “early on” was needed “to
determine what . . . issues may exist,” we note that he did not move for the appointment of one until one
week before trial began.

                                                   3
issues, punishment or otherwise, which necessitated explanation or development through

expert assistance. And, to the extent that he stated that a psychologist was “needed to

conduct psychological evaluations,” he presented neither evidence nor affidavit

suggesting, much less establishing, that his mental state at the time he committed the

offense or at the time of trial was in question.     Given this dearth of evidence and

explanation, the trial court could have reasonably construed appellant’s request as one

seeking the help of an expert to conduct a fishing expedition. We know of no authority

obligating the court to appoint experts for that purpose.

      In short, appellant’s motion consisted of the type of undeveloped assertions found

unacceptable in Williams and Rey.       Consequently, the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in overruling it. Accordingly, we overrule the point of error and affirm the

judgment.

                                                Brian Quinn
                                                   Justice

Do not publish.

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