Virgil E. Hodges v. State Missouri

Jury-convicted, appellant Marlon Robinson ("defendant") was sentenced to two consecutive ten-year terms for forcible sodomy and forcible rape, and to a concurrent one-year imprisonment for stealing. On appeal, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, transferred the case to this Court to examine the inherent authority of the trial court to appoint a psychiatrist to examine the complainant to aid the court in determining the complainants competency to testify. After reviewing diverse cases within Missouri and across America, this Court holds that the trial court lacks such authority, and so affirms the circuit court.