Robert H. Gordon

Defense psychologist Robert H. Gordon testified in Brendan Dassey's 2007 trial about his evaluation of Dassey's susceptibility to suggestion during questioning. On Day 8, he described personality findings he associated with withdrawal and passivity, IQ testing, and Gudjonsson test results of seven yielding answers and nine answer changes. He concluded that Dassey was highly suggestible when faced with leading questions or mild pressure, and applied yield and shift concepts to passages from the March 1 interview.

On cross-examination, prosecutor Kenneth Kratz tested the basis of that opinion against Gordon's report, school records, test methods, and interview review. Gordon acknowledged that he had reviewed school records after writing his report, had omitted examples of Dassey resisting suggestions, and might have confused anger and anxiety inventories. He also said he had changed a word in the Gudjonsson test story, did not know how that affected its norms, and had not scored immediate recall. He maintained his suggestibility opinion while distinguishing an assessment of vulnerability from a determination that a confession was true or false.

On redirect, Gordon explained why he used objective tests alongside clinical judgment and said the interview showed both resistance to suggestions and later answer changes. On recross, he said a changed interview answer was consistent with getting a confession. His testimony addressed how questioning might affect Dassey's answers, not whether any particular answer was false.

The State then sought rebuttal about Gordon's tests and opinions. The court permitted James Armentrout to address those subjects if a sufficient foundation was laid, but excluded testimony on whether suggestibility or the Gudjonsson scale was a psychology specialty or sub-specialty. Armentrout questioned the completeness of Gordon's abbreviated IQ estimate while not disputing its low-average description.