Court Opinion

ID: 4021511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-03 17:06:01.589802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:53.039320
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MINNESOTA
                                                                           August 1, 2016
                                 IN SUPREME COURT                           O RmiEOF
                                                                        AJII!IB.lAJECcuns
                                      ADM 10-8046

ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO
THE SPECIAL RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING PROCEEDINGS
UNDER THE MINNESOTA COMMITMENT AND TREATMENT ACT

       Following amendments promulgated in 2015 to the Special Rules of Procedure

Governing Proceedings Under the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act, we

directed the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Procedure Governing

Proceedings Under the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act to monitor the rules

and report by April 1, 2016, whether any further amendments were recommended to

facilitate the continued transition by the judicial branch to a more universal electronic

court environment. The committee met several times thereafter, and on April 1, 2016,

filed a report with the court, along with recommendations for rule amendments.

Specifically, the committee recommends amendments to the rules to clarify procedures in

matters held before a judicial appeal panel and to address the duties of appointed counsel.

In addition, the committee recommends that the court convene a sub-committee of

members from the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Procedure

Governing Proceedings Under the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act, and

members from the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal

Procedure to evaluate the processes and court rules related to civil commitment

proceedings resulting from an evaluation conducted pursuant to Minn. R. Crim. P. 20 .
       In an order filed April 21, 2016, we opened a public comment period on the

proposed amendments to the Special Rules of Procedure Governing Proceedings Under

the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act. Written comments were filed by the

Minnesota State Bar Association, John Stuart on behalf of the Robina Group of Criminal

Law and Criminal Justice, and committee member Don Betzold.

       The court has carefully considered the committee's recommendations, as well as

the written comments. The court agrees with the recommended amendments, with one

exception proposed for amendment in Rule 9.             The court also agrees with the

recommendation to appoint a sub-committee, and will implement that recommendation

by separate order.

       Based on all of the files, records, and proceedings herein,

      IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

       1.     The attached amendments to the Special Rules of Procedure Governing

Proceedings Under the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act be, and the same are,

prescribed and promulgated to be effective in all cases pending on, or filed on or after

October 1, 2016.

      2.      The inclusion of committee comments 1s for convenience and does not

reflect court approval of the comments.

      Dated: August 1, 2016                      BY THE COURT:

                                                 Lorie S. Gildea
                                                 Chief Justice

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AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIAL RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING
PROCEEDINGS   UNDER THE   MINNESOTA   COMMITMENT   AND
TREATMENT ACT

{Note: In the following amendments, deletions are indicated by a line drawn through
the words and additions are indicated by a line drawn under the words.]

                                RULE 5. CASE CAPTIONS

       Civil commitment proceedings shall be captioned in the name of the person
subject to the petition as follows: In the Matter ofthe Civil Commitment of (Full Name
of Respondent), Respondent.

       The same caption shall be used in proceedings before the judicial appeal panel
established under Minnesota Statutes, section 2538.19, except that the designation in the
caption of the committed individual as "Respondent" shall be omitted.

                             Advisory Committee Comment-2016

               An individual who is committed as mentally ill and dangerous. as a sexually
      dangerous person, or as a sexual psychopathic personality is committed
      indeterminately. In these cases, the process for a reduction in custody begins with a
      petition filed with the Commissioner of Human Services and heard by the special review
      board. which makes a recommendation to the Commissioner or the judicial appeal
      panel. To avoid confusion or inaccurate party designations in judicial appeal panel
      proceedings. the rule is amended to clarify that the party designation of respondent is
      removed from captions related to judicial appeal panel proceedings.

               RULE 9. APPOINTMENT AND ROLE OF COUNSEL

        (a) Appointment by the Committing Court. Immediately upon the filing of a
petition for commitment or early intervention the court shall appoint a qualified attorney
to represent the respondent at public expense at any subsequent proceeding under Minn.
Stat. ch. 253B or Minn. Stat. ch. 253D. +beAn attorneys shall represent the respondent
until the court dismisses the petition or the commitment and discharges the attomeyor the
respondent is discharged from commitment, and the conclusion of any related appeal.

      (b) Private Counsel.    The respondent may employ private counsel at the
respondent's expense. If private counsel is employed, the court shall discharge the
appointed counsel.
       (c) Withdrawal. In order to withdraw, counsel must file a motion and obtain the
appointing court's approval. Upon approval of withdrawal, the court shall appoint
substitute counsel for respondent.

        (d) Duty of Counsel. Counsel for the respondent is not required to file an appeal~
er---commence any proceeding, or advance a position asserted in a filing made by the
respondent under Minn. Stat. ch. 253B or Minn. Stat. ch. 253D if, in the opinion of
counsel, there is an insufficient basis for proceeding.

                           Advisory Committee Comment- 2016 Amendments

                     The amendments regarding appointment of counsel ensure that
              committed individuals are continuously represented by counsel during
              commitment proceedings and during all times the individual is under
              commitment. No individual should be without counsel while under commitment.

                      The amendments regarding the duty of counsel recognize the challenges
              at times {aced by counsel in representing individuals proposed for or subject to
              commitment by balancing counsel's ethical responsibility to ensure that
              arguments. positions. and pleadings are meritorious with the responsibility to be
              a vigorous advocate for the individual. When an individual is indeterminately
              committed, an important responsibility of counsel is to assist the individual in
              periodically petitioning for a reduction in custody to ensure neutral review o(the
              individual's commitment status.

                              RULE 11. EXAMINER'S LIST

        The court administrator shall prepare and maintain a list of examiners. A
statement of the manner and rate of compensation of examiners shall be attached to the
list. Examiners shall be paid at a rate of compensation fixed by the court. If a party
seeks appointment of an examiner not on the list, or at a rate of compensation exceeding
that fixed by the court, the party shall seek approval of the court prior to appointment.
Examiners in judicial appeal panel proceedings shall be appointed and compensated as
provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 2538.19.

                            RULE 12. EXAMINER REPORTS

       Each court-appointed examiner shall examine the respondent and prepare and file
with the court a separate report stating the examiner's opinion and the facts upon which
the opinion is based. The report shall address:

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       (a)    Whether the respondent is mentally ill, developmentally disabled,
              chemically dependent, mentally ill and dangerous to the public, a sexually
              dangerous person, or a sexual psychopathic personality;
       (b)    Whether the examiner recommends commitment;
       (c)    The appropriate form, location, and conditions of treatment, including
              likelihood of the need for treatment with neuroleptic medication; and
       (d)    The respondent's capacity to make decisions about neuroleptic medication,
              if needed.

       If the petition alleges that the respondent is mentally ill and dangerous to the
public, the report shall also address whether there is a substantial likelihood that
respondent will engage in acts capable of inflicting serious physical harm on another.

        If the petition alleges that the respondent is a sexual psychopathic personality
and/or a sexually dangerous person, the report shall address each element set out in Minn.
Stat. § 253D.02, subds. 11 and 12 respectively, including an opinion as to the likelihood
that the respondent will engage in future dangerous behavior.

        In proceedings before the judicial appeal panel, the examiner report shall address
the criteria relating to the type or types of reduction in custody requested in the petition
for reduction in custody.

       The court shall distribute or electronically transmit through the E-Filing System a
copy of the examiner's report to the county attorney, the respondent, and respondent's
attorney immediately upon receiving the report. In judicial appeal panel proceedings, the
report shall also be distributed to the attorney for the commissioner of human services.

                           RULE 13. MEDICAL RECORDS

       (a)     Medical Records-Defined. For purposes of these rules, "medical
records" are records and reports prepared by medical, healthcare, and/or scientific
professionals that relate to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or
condition of an individual, including but not limited to medical histories, examinations,
diagnoses and treatment, pre-petition screening reports, court-appointed examiner's
reports prepared pursuant to Rule 12 of these rules, and any other records designated by
the presiding judge as medical records for purposes of this rule.

      (b)    Access to Respondent's Medical Records.                The county attorney,
respondent, respondent's attorney, court-appointed examiner, guardian ad litem,
substitute decision-maker, and their agents and experts retained by them shall have access .
to all of the respondent's medical records and the reports of the court-appointed
exammers. The records and reports may not be disclosed to any other person without

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court authorization or the respondent's signed consent. Except for a preliminary hearing,
each party shall disclose to the other party or parties as soon as possible in advance of the
hearing which of the respondent's medical records the party intends to introduce at the
hearing. In judicial appeal panel proceedings, such disclosure shall be no later than three
business days before a scheduled hearing or as provided in the panel's scheduling order.

                  RULE 20. TERMINATION OF COMMITMENT

       The court shall order termination of the commitment when the commitment
expires, or upon a direct discharge by the treatment facility, or upon a discharge by the
Commissioner of Human Services. Terminations of indeterminate commitments are
governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 2538.18 (persons who are mentally ill and
dangerous) and chapter 253D (persons who are sexually dangerous or with sexual
psychopathic personalities).

       The order shall also discharge the court-appointed attorney.

          RULE 26. TREATMENT PROVIDER ACCESS TO RECORDS

       Following an order for commitment and during the pendency of that commitment,
at the request of the head of a treatment facility or program to which a respondent is
committed, the countv attorney may provide to the facility or program electronic or paper
copies of any documents received into evidence as part of the commitment proceedings
and, if requested and it exists, the transcript of those proceedings. Any costs associated
with obtaining the transcript shall be paid by the treatment facility or program.

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