Opinion ID: 885764
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appointment of competent counsel

Text: ¶ 71 Under § 53-21-122(2) and (3), MCA, if a judge finds probable cause for the commitment petition, counsel must be immediately appointed for the respondent. In light of the foregoing statutory mandate, we add that following guideline: To be eligible for appointment, attorneys should have specialized course training, or have received supervised on-the-job training in the duties, skills, and ethics of representing civil commitment respondents. See Guidelines, Part E1 at 464. At a bare minimum, counsel should possess a verifiably competent understanding of the legal process of involuntary commitments, as well as the range of alternative, less-restrictive treatment and care options available, pursuant to § 53-21-127(2), MCA (listing evaluation and treatment options that court may impose following a disposition hearing, including involuntary medication). ¶ 72 Further, state law requires that the desires of the respondent must be taken into consideration in the . . . confirmation of the appointment of the attorney, under § 53-21-122(2), MCA. In the case at bar, as an example, there is no evidence that any such desires, which would indicate an informed, knowledgeable decision by the patient-respondent, were ever taken into consideration. Therefore, it is critical that the district court, upon appointment of counsel, provide the patient-respondent with clear and concise information describing the attorney's name and qualifications in order for the patient to then make an informed decision as to whether to accept appointed counsel, or for good cause shown and based on compelling reasons request the appointment of different counsel, or retain alternative representation.