Opinion ID: 624293
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Harper III

Text: FMC-Springfield conducted a third Harper hearing ( Harper III ) on September 15, 2011, with Dr. Tomelleri again presiding. Loughner again requested Ms. Chapman as a witness. This time, Ms. Chapman was contacted and permitted to submit a written statement, which contained legal objections to the continuing involuntary medication. According to the Involuntary Medication Report, Dr. Tomelleri authorized involuntary medication based on a finding that Loughner was a danger to himself. In the Justification section of the report, Dr. Tomelleri cited the deterioration of Loughner's condition after psychotropic medication was discontinued in July. The report indicates that many of Loughner's most serious symptoms had receded since involuntary medication recommenced pursuant to the July emergency order, but noted that Loughner still exhibits a tendency toward motor restlessness and pacing, . . . cries frequently, and expresses intense feelings of guilt. Dr. Tomelleri noted that Dr. Pietz had expressed concern about Loughner's potential for suicide, and at one point Loughner had asked her, How did you know I was going to hang myself? The report noted Loughner's then-current medication regimen: 3 mg of risperidone (antipsychotic), twice a day; 300 mg of buproprion XL (antidepressant); 1 mg of benztropine (anti-cholinergic to control side effects of antipsychotics), twice a day; 1 mg of clonazepam (anxiolytic), twice a day and 2 mg at bedtime. Finding that psychotropic medication is the treatment of choice, Dr. Tomelleri noted that other measures did not address the fundamental problem or had no direct effect on the core manifestations of Loughner's mental condition. The report concluded that [d]iscontinuation of current medications is virtually certain to result in an exacerbation of Mr. Loughner's illness as it did when medication was discontinued in July. Getchell filed an appeal on Loughner's behalf. On the appeal form, Getchell relayed that Loughner wanted to appeal because he do[esn't] do drugs. The Associate Warden upheld the involuntary medication determination, finding that [m]edication is the least intrusive treatment for you at this time. On September 23, 2011, Loughner filed an emergency motion in the district court to enjoin the involuntary medication authorized by the Harper III hearing. Loughner reiterated arguments raised in his prior involuntary medication challenges and, particular to this hearing, argued that BOP failed to find that the medication was necessary to treat his dangerousness and that his staff representative had provided inadequate assistance. The district court denied Loughner's motion at a hearing on September 28, 2011, and again in a September 30 written order. During the hearing, the district court noted that the involuntary medication of Loughner is predicated on the ground of dangerousness and really has nothing to do with his competency, and thus, those with medical training and experience who have interaction with Mr. Loughner on a daily basis are in the best position to assess whether he's a danger to himself and to assess his institutional needs. Status Hr'g Tr. 295, Sept. 28, 2011. In the written order, the district court reiterated that the decision to medicate Mr. Loughner to prevent him from harming himself or others is best made by prison doctors following administrative procedures, and that the only issue for the court was whether the decision to medicate involuntarily was factually or procedurally deficient. Order Extending Restoration Commitment 5, Sept. 30, 2011. Finding no merit in Loughner's challenge to the adequacy of his staff representative, the court concluded that there was no defect in the Harper hearing conducted on September 15. Id. at 6. The district court therefore denied the motion to enjoin Loughner's involuntary medication, and Loughner appealed (No. 11-10504).