Opinion ID: 2537785
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Commitment and related proceedings

Text: On April 26, 2008, a magistrate issued an ex parte order committing Bigley to psychiatric evaluation after finding probable cause that he was mentally ill and that he was gravely disabled or presented a likelihood of causing serious harm to himself or others. The order also appointed the public defender to represent Bigley. On April 28 API petitioned for a thirty-day commitment, and also petitioned for court approval of non-crisis administration of psychotropic medication. On that same day, an attorney, James Gottstein of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights, e-mailed API and the public defender to inform them that he was representing Bigley with respect to what he called the forced drugging petition. In the e-mail he stated the view that Bigley had likely acted out as a way to get shelter at API during cold weather. He proposed a plan under which Bigley would be housed and fed at API. The public defender's office represented Bigley at the commitment hearing on April 30, 2008. Attorney Gottstein filed a limited entry of appearance to represent Bigley regarding the petition for court-ordered administration of medication. The public defender objected to Gottstein's appearing on Bigley's behalf. The master agreed that should Bigley be committed, Gottstein could appear for Bigley during the subsequent involuntary medication proceedings. However, until that time, the master said she would not allow Gottstein to appear as counsel, cautioning him that you're not co-counsel and you're not to be sitting at the table with them or interfering with their conduct of the case. At the April 30 hearing, the master heard evidence and found that Bigley was gravely disabled under AS 47.30.915(7). On May 5 the superior court adopted the findings of fact and ordered Bigley committed to API for mental health treatment for a period not to exceed thirty days.