Opinion ID: 889899
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Restraints During the Bench Trial

Text: ¶ 23 T.J.F. next argues that requiring him to appear in full restraints during his bench trial violated his due process right to be free from bodily restraint and his right to dignity under the Montana Constitution. The State argues that T.J.F. did not object, and therefore his present argument was waived. ¶ 24 T.J.F.'s counsel did object to T.J.F. appearing in full restraints, despite not using the word objection. T.J.F.'s counsel made a statement on the record, saying: Judge, just before the beginning of the trial I did briefly meet with [T.J.F.] and he indicated to me that he was calm, that he had the ability to remain calm throughout the trial. He understood that he needs to be on his best behavior here in the courtroom. I would ask, Your Honor, that the Court would give him an opportunity to show that he can behave before he is restrained. Alternatively, if the Court feels that it is necessary to impose some restraint, that the least restrictive restraint be imposed, probably maybe handcuffing him, and the Court give him an opportunity to see if he can behave, and if for any reason that he seems to not be able to maintain composure here in the courtroom, then at that point it isn't an issue of whether additional restraint is necessary. The argument on appeal was not waived by failure to object. ¶ 25 The District Court ultimately found: The Court feels that the respondent [T.J.F.] is a danger to court personnel, including respondent's counsel. The Court agrees that this is a bench trial; there won't be the prejudice that would be presented in front of a jury. And accordingly, I'm going to order full restraints, including leg irons, handcuffs and belly chains for the respondent for the purposes of these proceedings. T.J.F. was then brought in and was fully restrained throughout his commitment hearing. ¶ 26 The due process clauses of the United States and Montana Constitutions entitle criminal defendants to appear before juries free of bodily restraints. U.S. Const. amends. V and XIV; Mont. Const. art. II, Section 17; State v. Merrill, 2008 MT 143, ¶ 12, 343 Mont. 130, 183 P.3d 56 (emphasis added). The reason for this, of course, is to avoid creating the impression within the minds of jurors that a criminal defendant is guilty or dangerous, thus possibly prejudicing the defendant and his right to a fair trial. The right to be free from physical restraints is not absolute however. Merrill, ¶ 12. The district court must be persuaded by compelling circumstances that some measure is needed to maintain the security of the courtroom, and must pursue less restrictive alternatives before imposing physical restraints. State v. Herrick, 2004 MT 323, ¶ 14, 324 Mont. 76, 101 P.3d 755 (adopting this test from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals); Merrill, ¶ 13. The district court's decision to restrain a criminal defendant during trial is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Merrill, ¶ 10. ¶ 27 It appears that Montana has not yet addressed whether an individual facing civil commitment has such a right. The statutes governing involuntary commitment offer no guidance on this particular issue. See §§ 53-21-101 to -198, MCA. Rather, the statutes provide a list of procedural rights regarding those facing involuntary commitment. Section 53-21-115, MCA. The right to appear without restraints is not among them. Id. ¶ 28 Although not authoritative, we find the criminal cases above informative on this issue, and were this case about an individual appearing in full restraints before a jury in a civil commitment proceeding we may be inclined to adopt the standard adopted in Herrick. However, that is not the case. Involuntary commitment proceedings are civil in nature. There need not be automatic congruence between procedural due process requirements in criminal trials and involuntary civil commitments. Tyars v. Finner, 709 F.2d 1274, 1283 (9th Cir.1983). Although we do not adopt the Herrick standard for this particular case, we find that in an involuntary commitment proceeding before a district court sitting without a jury, there must be a showing on the record that restraints are needed before the District Court may order them. ¶ 29 Applying this standard, we find no error by the District Court in requiring T.J.F. to appear before it, at a bench trial, in full restraints. The record shows the District Court took testimony on the issue, and allowed both the State and T.J.F.'s counsel to address it. Contrary to T.J.F.'s assertions, T.J.F. was not restrained solely due to T.J.F.'s verbal outbursts, but also due to him acting out physically during the ride from the Montana State Hospital to court that day, and the allegations of T.J.F.'s violent behavior in the underlying petition. The District Court established, on the record, the need for restraints to maintain the security of the courtroom and court personnel, which was well within its authority. Section 3-1-111(3), MCA (every court has the power to provide for the orderly conduct of proceedings before it). Further, the District Court made the specific finding that, because there was no jury, the potential for T.J.F. to be prejudiced by appearing in restraints was obviated. ¶ 30 Finally, and importantly, the record is devoid of any prejudice suffered by T.J.F. because he appeared in restraints. T.J.F.'s argument to the contrarythat [t]he district court prejudged T.J.F. as requiring involuntary commitment based on a `feeling' that T.J.F. was dangerousis unsupported by the record and without merit. We also find no violation of T.J.F.'s right to dignity under the Montana Constitution. The District Court established a need for T.J.F. to be restrained, and we find no error. ¶ 31 Issue Two: Was T.J.F.'s trial counsel ineffective for failing to object to holding the security hearing without T.J.F. present? ¶ 32 T.J.F. argues his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object when the District Court held a security hearing outside of his presence. The State argues that the record as a whole establishes that T.J.F.'s counsel was effective. ¶ 33 The proper role of an attorney in involuntary commitment proceedings is to represent the perspective of the respondent and to serve as a vigorous advocate for the respondent's wishes. C.R.C. II, ¶ 18. The traditional Strickland test for ineffective assistance does not apply to involuntary commitment proceedings. Id. at ¶ 16. We look instead to five critical areas to measure effective assistance of counsel in involuntary commitment proceedings: 1) appointment of counsel; 2) counsel's initial investigation; 3) counsel's interview with the client; 4) the patient-respondent's right to remain silent; and 5) counsel's role as an advocate for the patient-respondent. Id. Upon a substantial showing of evidence that counsel did not effectively represent the patient-respondent's interests pursuant to these five critical areas, an order of involuntary commitment should be vacated. Id. We review the record as a whole, and each critical factor is evaluated based upon the facts and circumstances of the entire case. Id. at ¶ 19. ¶ 34 The only factor implicated here is counsel's role as an advocate for the patient-respondent. Based upon the record as a whole, and the facts and circumstances of the entire case, we cannot say that T.J.F.'s counsel was ineffective. While she did not object to the security hearing being held without T.J.F. present, she did advocate for him during the security hearing, asking the District Court to allow him an opportunity to conform his behavior before restraining him and asking for the least restrictive restraints. The record is replete with other evidence of counsel's vigorous advocacyshe moved for T.J.F.'s release pending trial, actively objected during witness testimony, cross-examined all witnesses, succeeded in having hearsay evidence excluded, and advocated for the dismissal of the petition. In all, T.J.F.'s counsel represented the perspective of T.J.F. and served as a vigorous advocate for T.J.F.'s wishes. We find no reversible error. ¶ 35 Issue Three: Did the District Court err in concluding the State proved T.J.F. met the statutory criteria for commitment? ¶ 36 T.J.F. argues the District Court erred by failing to consider T.J.F.'s substance abuse and by finding T.J.F. an imminent danger to himself or others because of his mental disorder. The State argues that while T.J.F. admitted substance use, there was no evidence substance abuse played a role in this case, and that the District Court made the requisite connection between the mental disorder and T.J.F.'s conduct. ¶ 37 At trial on a petition for involuntary commitment, the district court must first consider all the facts relevant to the issues of whether the respondent is suffering from a mental disorder. Section 53-21-126(1), MCA. If the district court determines that the respondent is suffering from a mental disorder, it must then determine whether the respondent requires commitment. Id. In determining whether the respondent requires commitment and the appropriate disposition under § 53-21-127, MCA, the court shall consider the following: (a) whether the respondent, because of a mental disorder, is substantially unable to provide for the respondent's own basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, or safety; (b) whether the respondent has recently, because of a mental disorder and through an act or an omission, caused self-injury or injury to others; (c) whether, because of a mental disorder, there is an imminent threat of injury to the respondent or to others because of the respondent's acts or omissions; and (d) whether the respondent's mental disorder, as demonstrated by the respondent's recent acts or omissions, will, if untreated, predictably result in deterioration of the respondent's mental condition to the point at which the respondent will become a danger to self or to others or will be unable to provide for the respondent's own basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, or safety. Predictability may be established by the respondent's relevant medical history. Id. Satisfaction of any one of the criteria listed above justifies commitment. Section 53-21-127(7), MCA. The term mental disorder does not include addiction to drugs or alcohol. Section 53-21-102(9)(b), MCA. A mental disorder may co-occur with an addiction or chemical dependency. Section 53-21-102(9)(c), MCA. ¶ 38 The District Court found there is little, if any, evidence of substance abuse much less dependency or addiction. We agree. While there is evidence that T.J.F. used drugs occasionally, there is no evidence in the record that T.J.F. was addicted to drugs, or that T.J.F. was even using drugs at the time the events underlying the petition occurred. Mr. Fischer testified that T.J.F.'s medical illness caused him to exhibit behaviors that put him and others in the community at risk of harm. T.J.F.'s argument that his behavior was caused by substance abuse is not supported by the record. We find no error in the District Court's findings on this issue. ¶ 39 The District Court also found that [b]ecause of the mental disorder, there is an imminent threat of injury to [T.J.F.] and others through overt acts and failures. T.J.F. argues that there is no evidence that T.J.F. caused injury or posed the imminent threat of injury to anyone because of his mental disorder. However, the record demonstrates that T.J.F., while fleeing from police, ran in and out of traffic, causing drivers to slam on their brakes. T.J.F. punched a patrol car. T.J.F. was agitated, enraged, and unpredictable. Mr. Fischer's report indicates that T.J.F.'s behavior was bizarre and aggressive. Mr. Fischer testified that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, T.J.F. had a mental disorder and because of this T.J.F. posed a risk of harm to himself and the community. Based on the record before the Court, we find no error in the District Court's findings on this issue.