United States v. Smith, 28938.

• Decision Date: 04 February 1971
• Docket Number: No. 28938.,28938.
• Citation: 436 F.2d 787
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Johnny Ray SMITH, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

436 F.2d 787 (1971)

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Johnny Ray SMITH, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 28938.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

January 4, 1971.

Rehearing Denied February 4, 1971.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

Paul E. Presley, Atlanta, Ga., (Court-appointed), for defendant-appellant.

Eldon B. Mahon, U. S. Atty., Alex H. McGlinchey, Asst. U. S. Atty., Fort Worth, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before JOHN R. BROWN, Chief Judge, and DYER and INGRAHAM, Circuit Judges.

DYER, Circuit Judge:

At the trial of this case, Smith, having admitted every element of the crime of passing forged postal money orders except willfully cashing them, was convicted by a jury of violating 18 U.S.C.A. § 500 despite his defense of insanity at the time of the offenses. On appeal he complains of a superficial psychiatric examination that allegedly was conducted unfairly, the trial court's procedure for determining the necessity for issuing subpoenas requested by Smith, the court's refusal to grant amnesty to un-named witnesses Smith desired to call to establish an alibi, and prejudicial remarks made by the prosecutor. Unimpressed that any error was committed, we affirm.

Twenty-five of Smith's forty-six years on earth have been spent in various penitentiaries. Much of his incarceration time has been in maximum security, including Alcatraz. Even so, he managed to escape three or four times and was at large when the offenses for which he was tried in this case were committed. This District Court, realizing that he is a desperate and dangerous character, took precautionary measures to safeguard the court-appointed psychiatric expert who was to examine Smith, as well as measures to secure the prisoner.

The court ordered Smith transported from jail to a hospital where he was interviewed for about forty-five minutes by the Director of Psychiatric Services. During this time Smith was restrained by hand and leg chains; he was accompanied by a deputy marshal and a guard. Smith complains that the examination was perfunctory and conducted unfairly.

The length of time required for an adequate interview-examination depends upon the circumstances of each case. As the trial judge pointed out, "there was not one single thing in the interview that gave any indication whatever that the defendant was mentally irresponsible. There was no symptom that needed further pursuit. He the doctor found the defendant to be on the extreme of the spectrum with the mentally responsible." The physician's qualifications were of high order; and as a result of his examination, he was able to opine unequivocally that at the time the offenses were committed Smith was sane according to the standards set forth in Blake v. United States, 5 Cir. 1969, 407 F.2d 908 (en banc). Moreover, the facts that Smith's hands and feet were chained and that there were two guards present — discretionary precautions taken by the court, wholly justified by the circumstances — did not result in an unfair examination or an erroneous result. Undoubtedly psychiatrists are less likely than jurors to permit their judgments to be influenced by security measures; yet shackling a defendant, even in the courtroom in the jury's presence, has been upheld where it was necessary for security reasons. E. g., Illinois v. Allen, 1970, 397 U.S. 337, 344, 90 S.Ct. 1057, 25 L. Ed.2d 353; Loux v. United States, 9 Cir. 1968, 389 F.2d 911, 919-920, cert. denied 393 U.S. 867, 89 S.Ct. 151, 21 L. Ed.2d 135; Gregory v. United States, 8 Cir. 1966, 365 F.2d 203, 205, cert. denied, 385 U.S. 1029, 87 S.Ct. 759, 17 L. Ed.2d 676; United States v. Bentvena, 2 Cir. 1963, 319 F.2d 916, cert. denied sub nom. Ormento v. United States, 375 U.S. 940, 84 S.Ct. 345, 11 L.Ed.2d 271; Cwach v. United States, 8 Cir. 1954, 212 F.2d 520, 522-528; DeWolf v. Waters, 10 Cir. 1953, 205 F.2d 234, 235, cert. denied, 346 U.S. 837, 74 S.Ct. 56, 98 L.Ed. 358.

Finally, the trial judge, displaying commendable caution, offered to recess the trial for as long as necessary, so that the psychiatrist could conduct a further clinical interview. Smith's refusal to submit to this proffered examination forecloses his complaint that the initial interview was inadequate or prejudicial.

Smith's contention that he had a right to counsel at his examination gives us little pause. A psychiatric examination is not an adversary proceeding. No inculpatory statements made to the examiner are admissible. To hold a psychiatric examination of an accused without his counsel present is not error. See United States v. Albright, 4 Cir. 1968, 388 F.2d 719, 726-727; Caster v. United States, 5 Cir. 1963, 319 F.2d 850, cert. denied, 1964, 376 U.S. 953, 84 S.Ct. 972, 11 L.Ed.2d 973.

Smith next urges that the lower court violated the letter and intent of Rule 17(b), Fed.R.Crim.P. in denying him an ex parte hearing on his request for witness subpoenas. Smith requested that process be issued for forty-four witnesses, thirty-nine of whom were in Florida, Georgia, Alabama or Illinois. Thirteen of those requested were serving long terms in various penitentiaries for felony convictions, and some were considered top security risks. Prior to the trial seven potential witnesses had informed Smith that they could not help him.

The court directed that all witnesses requested by Smith be interviewed by Government agents...