State v. Davis

2002 WI 75, 645 N.W.2d 913, 254 Wis. 2d 1, 2002 Wisc. LEXIS 468
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJune 26, 2002
Docket00-2916-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 2002 WI 75 (State v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Davis, 2002 WI 75, 645 N.W.2d 913, 254 Wis. 2d 1, 2002 Wisc. LEXIS 468 (Wis. 2002).

Opinions

WILLIAM A. BABLITCH, J.

¶ 1. Glenn Davis (Davis) petitioned this court to review a court of appeals' decision, which held that, because he intended to introduce expert psychological testimony at trial pursuant to State v. Richard A.P., 223 Wis. 2d 777, 589 N.W.2d 674 (Ct. App. 1998), he effectively waived his right against self-incrimination and could be ordered to submit to a psychological examination by a state-selected expert. Richard A.R evidence is evidence introduced by the defendant to show that he lacked the psychological characteristics of a sex offender and therefore was unlikely to have committed the charged crime.

¶ 2. We address two issues on review. The first issue is whether Richard A.R evidence is admissible at trial. We conclude that such evidence may be admissible pursuant to the statutes governing both character evidence and expert testimony. The circuit court must closely scrutinize such evidence, however, for its relevancy, its probative value, and its potential for danger of unfair prejudice or confusion to the jury. In this case, because the circuit court never made a determination as to the admissibility of the evidence, we remand for such a determination on this issue.

¶ 3. The second issue we address is whether, when a defendant notifies the state that it intends to introduce Richard A.R evidence at trial, the court may compel the defendant to undergo a psychological exami[9]*9nation by a state-selected expert. We conclude that a defendant may be compelled to submit to such an examination if the defendant's expert testifies, either implicitly or explicitly, to facts surrounding the crime. In such instances, the defendant uses the expert as a surrogate to assert his or her own statements about facts on the crime and thereby waives the right against self-incrimination. Thus, waiver of the right in this case depends on the testimony of the expert; it is not waived simply by introducing the expert's testimony. We therefore reverse the court of appeals' decision and remand for further proceedings on the issue of waiver as well.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 4. Davis was charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court, with repeated sexual assault of a child, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 948.025 (1999-2000),1 and second-degree sexual assault of a child, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 948.02(2). These charges stemmed from alleged sexual contact that he had with his daughter. His daughter alleged that Davis had sexually abused her from the time she was four years old until she was about ten years old. Following a preliminary hearing and the filing of the information, Davis entered not guilty pleas to these charges.

¶ 5. During pre-trial proceedings, Davis filed a notice with the court that he intended to call Dr. Bronson Levin to testify at trial. Levin had interviewed Davis and conducted a series of psychological tests on Davis. Davis stated that Levin would testify, consistent with Richard A.P., that Davis does not exhibit character traits consistent with a sexual disorder such as pedo[10]*10philia and that, because Davis does not possess such character traits, he would have been unlikely to have committed any sexual assault on his daughter. Levin would also testify on the data upon which his opinion is based.

¶ 6. In response, citing State v. Maday, 179 Wis. 2d 346, 507 N.W.2d 365 (Ct. App. 1993), the State of Wisconsin (State) filed a motion to compel Davis to submit to a reciprocal psychological examination by an expert selected by the State. Davis objected, arguing that the holding in Maday did not require him to submit to any examination by the State and that such a compelled examination implicated his right against self-incrimination.

¶ 7. The circuit court, the Honorable Thomas R. Wolfgram presiding, denied the State's request for a psychological examination of Davis by its own expert. The court concluded that such an examination would violate Davis's right against self-incrimination. The court reserved for future consideration whether Levin's expert testimony would be admissible at trial. The State filed a petition for leave to appeal the circuit court's nonfinal order. The court of appeals granted this petition.

¶ 8. The court of appeals, in a published opinion, reversed the circuit court's order, holding that the State could compel Davis to submit to an examination by a psychologist selected by the State based on his intent to introduce Richard A.P. expert testimony. State v. Davis, 2001 WI App 210, ¶ 1, 247 Wis. 2d 917, 634, N.W.2d 922. The court held that a defendant who presents such expert testimony places his or her mental status at issue and therefore waives his or her right against self-incrimination. Id. As a result, based on concerns of fundamental fairness to provide the State with equal [11]*11access to the same quality of psychological evidence, the court concluded that the defendant could be ordered to submit to a psychological evaluation by an expert chosen by the State. Id. (citing Maday, 179 Wis. 2d at 357). The court remanded for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. Id. Davis requested review.

II. RICHARD AP/ADMISSIBILITY OF PROFILE EVIDENCE

¶ 9. We begin by examining an issue presented in Richard A.R, that is, whether a defendant may present expert testimony to show that the defendant lacks the characteristics of a sexual offender and is therefore unlikely to have committed the alleged sexual assault. Whether this evidence is generally admissible under our state's rules of evidence is a question of law that we decide de novo. See State v. Flattum, 122 Wis. 2d 282, 305-06, 361 N.W.2d 705 (1985).

¶ 10. In Richard A.P., Richard was charged and convicted for sexual contact with a child and for intimidation of a victim. Richard A.P., 223 Wis. 2d at 779. Before trial, Richard filed a motion in limine requesting permission to introduce expert testimony from a psychologist who had evaluated Richard. Id. at 790-91. The motion alleged that the psychologist would testify that " '[Richard's] sexual history and his responses to specific testing about his sexual behavior did not show any evidence of any diagnosable sexual disorder.'" Id. at 791. The psychologist would then testify that, absent such a diagnosable disorder, it is unlikely that Richard would have molested the child. Id. The circuit court denied admission of the psychologist's testimony because the psychologist could not say that the absence of any sexual disorder made it impossible for Richard to [12]*12have committed the crime. Id. at 791-92. Richard appealed this evidentiary determination. Id. at 779-80.

¶ 11. On appeal, the State conceded that the circuit court's reason for denying admissibility was incorrect. Id. at 792. Still, the State argued that the circuit court did not err in denying admission of this evidence because such testimony was not admissible character evidence. Id.

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Bluebook (online)
2002 WI 75, 645 N.W.2d 913, 254 Wis. 2d 1, 2002 Wisc. LEXIS 468, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-davis-wis-2002.