Does the SVPA Allow the People to Retain a Private Expert to Testify at Trial

Topic: Civil Commitments

Status/Court: Pending CA Supreme Court

Case Name: Needham v. Superior Court (2022) 82 Cal.App.5th 114, review granted 10/26/2022

Case #: S276395/G060670

Last Updated: February 1, 2023

Does the Sexually Violent Predator Act (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 6600 et seq.) allow the People to retain a private expert to testify at trial as to whether a defendant is a sexually violent predator, or are the expert witnesses limited to those designated by the State Department of State Hospitals (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 6601 & 6603)? (Needham v. Superior Court (2022) 82 Cal.App.5th 114, review granted 10/26/2022 (S276395/G060670).)

Review on this issue has also been granted with briefing deferred in:

People v. Arnold (B311683) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 2/1/2023 (S277872)

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