Opinion ID: 1696004
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Procedural Process in a Civil Commitment Hearing

Text: Chapter 125 of the Iowa Code addresses the issue of chemical substance abuse. Under our statutory scheme, any interested person may commence commitment proceedings by filing an application for the involuntary commitment or treatment of an alleged chronic substance abuser. Iowa Code § 125.75. Upon the filing of the application, the clerk of court dockets the case and immediately notifies a district court judge, a district associate judge, or magistrate who is admitted to the practice of law. Id. § 125.77. The court then schedules a hearing not less than forty-eight hours after notice of the application is served upon the respondent. Id. § 125.78(3)( a ). If the applicant requests a court-appointed attorney, the court is required to appoint one at the county's expense so long as it determines the applicant is financially unable to employ an attorney and a court-appointed attorney is necessary to assist the applicant in a meaningful presentation of the evidence. Id. § 125.78(2). Section 125.82(4) sets forth the procedures for the commitment hearing: The respondent's welfare is paramount, and the hearing shall be tried as a civil matter and conducted in as informal a manner as is consistent with orderly procedure. Discovery as permitted under the Iowa rules of civil procedure is available to the respondent. The court shall receive all relevant and material evidence, but the court is not bound by the rules of evidence. A presumption in favor of the respondent exists, and the burden of evidence and support of the contentions made in the application shall be upon the person who filed the application. If upon completion of the hearing the court finds that the contention that the respondent is a chronic substance abuser has not been sustained by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall deny the application and terminate the proceeding. (Emphasis added.) In order to commit someone as a chronic substance abuser, the referee or district court has to find by clear and convincing evidence that the person: a. Habitually lacks self control as to the use of chemical substances to the extent that the person is likely to seriously endanger the person's health, or to physically injure the person's self or others, if allowed to remain at liberty without treatment. b. Lacks sufficient judgment to make responsible decisions with respect to the person's hospitalization or treatment. Id. § 125.2(4). In the present case, the applicants completed a fill-in-the-blank application form alleging chronic substance abuse. The applicants signed the application and attached statements and affidavits corroborating their allegations. Upon reviewing the application, the district court judge issued an order that S.P. be taken into immediate custody. The judge also appointed counsel for S.P., ordered a physician to examine her, and set the date and time for a commitment hearing before a hospitalization referee. The applicants did not hire an attorney to assist them at the hearing. [2] Likewise, the Dubuque County Attorney's office did not participate in either hearing and did not present evidence on behalf of the applicants. Not surprisingly, the co-applicants did not take an active role at the hearing. They simply stood silent as the referee took charge of the proceeding.