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Judge denies access and seals mental evaluation
Thursday, August 14, 2003 | No comments posted.
TILLAMOOK (AP) - A judge has sealed the latest psychological report on Edward Morris, ruling that the public's right to know is outweighed by the court's duty to ensure a fair trial for the man accused of killing his wife and three children.
"Public access to the report would be highly prejudicial to the defendant, could prevent the selection of an impartial jury and prevent a fair trial," wrote Tillamook County Circuit Judge David Hantke.
Morris was ordered in June to undergo a third psychological evaluation to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial. Hantke said Wednesday that he received the report late Tuesday from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem.
He ruled Wednesday that the report qualified as a confidential medical record and could not be released without the consent of Morris.
The judge ordered the third test after previous reports by a psychiatrist and a psychologist on whether Morris could assist in his own defense reached differing conclusions. No details of the previous evaluations have been released.
Morris is charged with seven counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife and three children. The bodies were found by elk hunters Dec. 21 in the Tillamook State Forest.
No details about the deaths have been released despite requests to unseal court documents by The Associated Press and The Oregonian.
No dates for additional hearings have been scheduled.
"Public access to the report would be highly prejudicial to the defendant, could prevent the selection of an impartial jury and prevent a fair trial," wrote Tillamook County Circuit Judge David Hantke.
Morris was ordered in June to undergo a third psychological evaluation to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial. Hantke said Wednesday that he received the report late Tuesday from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem.
He ruled Wednesday that the report qualified as a confidential medical record and could not be released without the consent of Morris.
The judge ordered the third test after previous reports by a psychiatrist and a psychologist on whether Morris could assist in his own defense reached differing conclusions. No details of the previous evaluations have been released.
Morris is charged with seven counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife and three children. The bodies were found by elk hunters Dec. 21 in the Tillamook State Forest.
No details about the deaths have been released despite requests to unseal court documents by The Associated Press and The Oregonian.
No dates for additional hearings have been scheduled.
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