Opinion ID: 1978898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Jurisdiction of reviewing court.

Text: It is contended that the reviewing court lacked jurisdiction in this case because it failed to review the order of the department at least ninety days before the time defendant was to be discharged. The defendant bases this assertion on sec. 959.15 (13), Stats. 1967, which provides that the department, after ordering that control be continued, must make application to the committing court for a review of that order at least 90 days before the time of discharge stated, which in this case was February 2, 1971. Although the application  for review was made by the department on October 30, 1970, the hearing on that application did not commence until January 29, 1971. It is contended that the ninety-day period of time set forth in the statute refers to the time of the hearing itself rather than the time for the application for the hearing. We think that this construction is strained and not supported by the natural import of the statute. Clearly, the ninety-day period refers to the application made by the department and not to the date of hearing. The entire section instructs the department how to proceed; and it is illogical to assume that the ninety-day period applies to the court rather than the department.