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NO. 94-407 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 1995 IN THE MATTER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A.H. Jl!N 19 1995 Respondent and Appellant. APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District, In and for the County of Lewis and Clark, The Honorable Dorothy McCarter, Judge presiding. COUNSEL OF RECORD: For Appellant: Lonnie Smith, Olson, Allen Jr., Disabilities Board of Visitors, Montana Program, Warm Springs, Montana Mental Advocacy For Respondent: Hon. Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General, Elizabeth L. Griffing, Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana; Mike McGrath, Lewis and Clark county Attorney, K. Paul Stahl, Deputy Lewis and Clark County Attorney, Helena, Montana Submitted on Briefs: June 13, 1995 Decided: June 19, 1995 Filed: Clerk Justice Fred J. Weber delivered the Opinion of the Court. The appellant, A.H., was detained in the Lewis and Clark County jail pursuant to criminal charges. She was taken from the jail to St. Peter's Community Hospital on January 10, 1994. Nancy Cobble prepared a mental evaluation report on January 10, 1994, and requested that a petition for the civil commitment of A.H. be filed. On January 10, 1994, a Petition for Involuntary Commitment was filed in the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, alleging that A.H. requesting her commitment. was seriously mentally ill and The Petition requested that the court find that the January 10 report prepared by Nancy Cobble was sufficient to meet the requirements of § 53-21-123, MCA. An initial appearance was made in the First Judicial District Court on January 10, 1994, and the court ordered that the report attached to the Petition completed by Nancy Cobble was sufficient to meet the requirements of 5 53-21-123, MCA. No professional person was appointed by the court at the initial appearance to examine A.H. A hearing was held before the District Court on January 11, 1994, at which time the District Court concluded A.H. had a mental disorder of "psychotic episode" and found that because of her current mental disorder and her recent behavior, A.H. was deprived of the ability to protect her life or health. A.H. was committed by the District Court to the Montana State Hospital by its order of January 11, 1994. A.H. has appealed contending that she was deprived of her right to liberty without due process of law and that she was committed to Montana State Hospital in violation of mandatory statutory safeguards. 122, MCA, requires the appointment of a professional person and that § 53-21-123, In substance, A.H. contends that § 53-21- MCA, provides as a mandatory requirement that following the initial hearing the respondent shall be examined by such professional person. A.H. contends that these statutory mandates were disregarded. The District Court failed to appoint a professional person and ordered that the report completed before the initial hearing was sufficient to meet the statutory mandate. The Attorney General of the State of Montana has filed a Notice of Concession which states that this case does involve the appeal of commitment of A.H. pursuant to 55 53-21-122 and 123, MCA. The Attorney General points out that the sole issue is whether the proper statutory procedures were followed. The Attorney General further points out that under In re R.M. (1995), 52 St.Rep. P.2d 1201 and In re D.H. (1995), 52 St.Rep. 68, 889 294, this Court has rejected the same commitment procedures which were used in the present case. The Attorney General therefore concedes in behalf of the State of Montana that the District Court decision should be reversed. This Court concludes that no further procedure is required in the present case. We hold that the District Court erred when it failed to comply with the specific requirements of §§ 53-21-122 and 123, MCA; and 3 for that reason this Court reverses the order of commitment of A.H. to Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs, Montana. Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court 1988 Internal Operating Rules, this decision shall not be cited as precedent and shall be published by its filing as a public document with the Clerk of this Court and by a report of its result to the West Publishing Company. Reversed. Justices / June 19, 1995 CERTIFICATE On..I... *.A? -1 QF~vT~ I hereby certify that tl it: following certified order was sent by United States mail, prepaid, to the 1tillowing named: Lotie. J. Olson . Me.ntaI Disabilities Board of Visitors P.O. Box 177 Warm Springs, MT 59756 Hon. Joseph P. Mazurek Attome! f General - _. . Justice blag. Helena, MT 59620 Mike McGrath County Attorney L & C County Courthouse Helena, MT 59624 ED S: ---MITH CLE& LK OF THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF MONTANA I-. Deputy -
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