Opinion ID: 2549771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Unpreserved Error

Text: [¶ 14] The Department contends that we should not reach the merits of this appeal because Christopher H. did not raise an objection to the District Court's failure to expressly address whether his ability to participate at the hearing was impaired by the involuntary administration of medications. [¶ 15] As a general rule, we will not engage in appellate review of alleged error that is unpreserved. Alexander, Maine Appellate Practice § 402 at 214. We will consider unpreserved error, however, where application of the general rule ... would obviously result in a plain miscarriage of justice. Teel v. Colson, 396 A.2d 529, 534 (Me.1979). [¶ 16] The unpreserved issue in this case is legally significant. The process that is required when an individual's ability to participate in an involuntary commitment hearing may have been affected by the involuntary administration of psychotropic medications must be tailored to protect the fundamental liberty interest at stake. See Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346, 357, 117 S.Ct. 2072, 138 L.Ed.2d 501 (1997) (involuntary commitment statutes [are upheld] provided the confinement takes place pursuant to proper procedures and evidentiary standards). This is also an issue that will escape review at the appellate level because of its fleeting or determinate nature, due to the fact that involuntary commitments are generally of short duration. Because the issue Christopher H. raises bears directly on a fundamental liberty interest and is the type of question that will generally escape appellate review, we are satisfied that justice demands that we consider it.