May Court Compel Psychological Exam by States Expert When Defendant Asserts Battered Woman Status?
Where Self-Defense Claim is Predicated on History of Spousal Abuse State of Ohio v. Megan Goff, Case no. 2009-1977 4th District Court of Appeals (Lawrence County) ISSUES: • When a defendant charged with the murder of her spouse argues that she acted in self-defense and indicates she will present expert testimony about battered woman syndrome, but does not assert an insanity defense or claim mental incompetence, does a trial court violate the defendant’s constitutional rights by compelling her to submit to a psychiatric examination by the state’s expert and to respond to the examiner’s questions regardless of their potential to evoke self-incriminating answers? • After conducting a compelled psychological examination of a criminal defendant, may the state’s expert testify at trial about statements the defendant made during that examination, including testimony pointing out inconsistencies between the defendant’s statements during the compelled examination and her earlier statements to p
