Opinion ID: 886520
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: ¶ 37 Whether Walker's appeal is moot because he has been released from custody. ¶ 38 The State argues on appeal, that because Walker only appeals the issues related to the conditions of his confinement, there is no relief the court can grant him, thus, his appeal is moot. The State also argues that the facts of this case do not meet the criteria for an exception to the mootness doctrine because it is not capable of repetition while evading review. ¶ 39 Walker argues, on the other hand, that this case is not moot because his release from MSP has not freed him from the residual effects of his deteriorated mental state caused by his treatment at MSP. He also argues that this case warrants exception to the mootness doctrine because other inmates housed in Max, especially other mentally ill inmates, could be subjected to the same filthy, inhumane conditions of confinement as he experienced and the abuses endured by those inmates could escape review because those inmates fear retaliation by correctional officers. ¶ 40 Mootness is a threshold issue that must be resolved before we can address the underlying dispute. Grabow v. Montana High School Ass'n, 2000 MT 159, ¶ 14, 300 Mont. 227, ¶ 14, 3 P.3d 650, ¶ 14 (citing Shamrock Motors, Inc. v. Ford, 1999 MT 21, ¶ 17, 293 Mont. 188, ¶ 17, 974 P.2d 1150, ¶ 17). A matter is moot when, due to an event or happening, the issue has ceased to exist and no longer presents an actual controversy. A question is moot when the court cannot grant effective relief. Grabow, ¶ 14. We have recognized an exception to the mootness doctrine for controversies that are capable of repetition, but that may evade review. Common Cause v. Statutory Committee (1994), 263 Mont. 324, 328, 868 P.2d 604, 606-07; Butte-Silver Bow Local Gov't v. Olsen (1987), 228 Mont. 77, 82, 743 P.2d 564, 567. ¶ 41 This Court reserves to itself the power to examine constitutional issues that involve the broad public concerns to avoid future litigation on a point of law. In re Mental Health of K.G.F., 2001 MT 140, ¶ 19, 306 Mont. 1, ¶ 19, 29 P.3d 485, ¶ 19 (quoting In re N.B. (1980), 190 Mont. 319, 322-23, 620 P.2d 1228, 1230-31, superseded in part by statute as stated in In re J.M. (1985), 217 Mont. 300, 304-05, 704 P.2d 1037, 1040). In In re N.B., N.B. was involuntarily committed to Warm Springs State Hospital for three months of evaluation and treatment. We concluded in that case that important constitutional questions were not rendered moot by N.B.'s release from Warm Springs. In re N.B., 190 Mont. at 322-23, 620 P.2d at 1231. ¶ 42 In like manner, in K.G.F., a woman was involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. She contended that she was denied effective assistance of counsel during the course of the commitment proceedings. We concluded in K.G.F. that the controversy was not moot even though K.G.F. was no longer subject to the 90-day commitment order because the claimed constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel in civil involuntary commitment proceedings is capable of repetition, yet evading review. K.G.F., ¶ 20, 29 P.3d 485 (citation omitted). ¶ 43 Walker maintains, and we agree, that similarly to K.G.F., this case involves constitutional questions. We phrase the first question as: Whether MSP disciplinary techniques rise to the level of cruel and unusual punishment when such conditions exacerbate an inmate's mental health condition. We phrase the second question as: Whether the use of BMPs in the manner described and the living conditions on A-block violate an inmate's inviolable right to human dignity under Article II, Section 4 of the Montana Constitution. Both questions implicate fundamental constitutional rights and as long as the current prison policies are in place, the problems will repeat themselves. ¶ 44 Moreover, the problems involved could otherwise evade review because BMPs are intended to last only a few days, barely enough time to file a complaint let alone for the issue to come before this Court. Nevertheless, the State argues that the District Court cannot grant the relief that Walker seeks because he is not now, nor will he be in the foreseeable future, subject to the prison's BMPs and any ruling from this Court would be advisory only. However, MSP continues to use BMPs and there is no doubt that they could again be used in the context of inmates with serious mental health problems, such as Walker. ¶ 45 Accordingly, we hold that Walker's appeal is not moot merely because he has been released from custody.