ABSTRACT
The U.S. Supreme Court in Satterwhite v. Texas (1988) described psychiatric testimony at capital sentencing as “a life or death matter” (at 1802). This characterization aptly captures the unparalleled gravity and implications of evaluations by mental health experts in these ultimate determinations. The demands for competence and professionalism from psychologists practicing in this arena are correspondingly high. The foundation for such competence and professionalism requires a clear understanding of the psycholegal issues involved in these determinations. It also calls for a sophisticated awareness of the implications and repercussions of the evaluation procedures and parameters. Finally, as in any arena of forensic practice, competence and professionalism rest on the empirical data that informs the conclusions and applications of the evaluation (for an extended discussion of parameters and standards for mental health evaluations at capital sentencing see Connell, 2003; Cunningham, in press a, b; Cunningham & Goldstein, 2003; Cunningham & Reidy, 1998a, 1999, 2001, 2002; Dekleva, 2001; Liebert & Foster, 1994; Reidy, Cunningham, & Sorensen, 2001).
