California’s top prison psychiatrist may not have to testify Monday about allegations that he uncovered corrections officials providing misleading or inaccurate information to a federal judge, but he may be called later for a hearing on whether data provided by the state constitutes “fraud on the court.”
That was the latest twist Wednesday in an ongoing legal battle between lawyers for Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration and attorneys for prison inmates over whether corrections officials have been fudging data on how well they are providing psychiatric care to prisoners.
U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller held a telephone conference Wednesday morning to address efforts by state lawyers to stop Dr. Michael Golding from testifying at a hearing Monday, and she indicated she may be willing to postpone such an appearance.