Court Opinion

ID: 886832
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 04:13:09.528481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:04:56.490096
License: Public Domain

No. 03-297

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

                                   2004 MT 221

IN THE MATTER OF THE
MENTAL HEALTH OF T.M.,

          Respondent and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM:     District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
                 In and for the County of Cascade, Cause No. ADI-03-002 (D),
                 The Honorable Dirk M. Sandefur, Judge presiding.

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

          For Appellant:

                 Lawrence A. LaFountain, Deputy Public Defender, Great Falls, Montana

          For Respondent:

                 Hon. Mike McGrath, Attorney General; Pamela P. Collins,
                 Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana

                 Brant Light, Cascade County Attorney; Marvin Anderson, Deputy County
                 Attorney, Great Falls, Montana

                                                   Submitted on Briefs: January 27, 2004

                                                             Decided: August 18, 2004
Filed:

                 __________________________________________
                                   Clerk
Justice John Warner delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     T.M. was committed by the Eighth Judicial District Court, Cascade County, to the

Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs for a period not to exceed ninety days. This period

of commitment was to be followed by an outpatient treatment regimen to be administered

by the Benefis Health Care psychiatric facility in Great Falls. T.M. appeals the commitment

order and seeks dismissal of this case.

¶2     We restate the issues on appeal as follows:

¶3     1) Whether T.M.’s counsel was ineffective in failing to secure a continuance of the

trial so he could attempt to locate an expert witness to testify regarding the general ability

of mentally ill homeless persons to care for themselves.

¶4     2) Whether the District Court erred in allowing T.M. to remain in the courtroom

during his trial.

¶5     3) Whether the District Court erred in denying T.M.’s request for continuance to

obtain private counsel.

¶6     We affirm the District Court.

                               STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶7     Involuntary commitment proceedings are civil in nature. In the Matter of the Mental

Health of L.C.B. (1992), 253 Mont. 1, 7, 830 P.2d 1299, 1303. Montana’s civil commitment

laws are to be strictly adhered to. In re Mental Health of T.J.D., 2002 MT 24, ¶ 20, 308

Mont. 222, ¶ 20, 41 P.3d 323, ¶ 20. Issues of due process and right to counsel are subject

to plenary review. In re Mental Health of K.G.F., 2001 MT 140, ¶ 17, 306 Mont. 1, ¶ 17,

29 P.3d 485, ¶ 17. Rulings on motions for continuance are discretionary and reviewed for

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abuse of discretion. In re R.F., 2001 MT 199, ¶ 21, 306 Mont. 270, ¶ 21, 32 P.3d 1257, ¶

21.

                                       DISCUSSION

                                         Issue One

¶8     Whether T.M.’s counsel was ineffective in failing to secure a continuance of the trial

so he could attempt to locate an expert witness to testify regarding the general ability of

mentally ill homeless persons to care for themselves.

¶9     T.M.’s right to effective assistance of counsel derives from § 53-21-101(4), MCA,

which requires due process of law be accorded any person subject to a petition for

involuntary commitment. In In re Mental Health of K.G.F., interpreting what effective

assistance of counsel entails in an involuntary commitment proceeding, we set forth a list of

guidelines, some statutory some not, counsel are required to comport with in order to be

effective. In re Mental Health of K.G.F., 2001 MT 140, 306 Mont. 1, 29 P.3d 485.

¶10    Applying those guidelines to the matter before us, we note first that the facts of the

case as drawn from the record, compared to what has been requested on appeal, create some

confusion.

¶11    The petition for commitment was filed on February 3, 2003. That same day the court

entered an order appointing the Cascade County Public Defender’s office to represent T.M.

The court held the initial appearance, required by § 53-21-122, MCA, on February 4, 2003.

Lawrence LaFountain appeared on behalf of T.M., who was present.

¶12    On February 6, 2003, the court held a status hearing on the petition. At the outset of

the hearing, LaFountain requested the court set a date for a jury trial. The court set February

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10, 2003, as the trial date. LaFountain asked the court for a continuance until February 17th

so that he would have time to secure an examination by a psychiatrist of T.M.’s choosing.

This is a right accorded to T.M. if the exam is reasonably available. Section 53-21-115(9),

MCA. Attorney Anderson, for the State, reminded everyone that according to statute the

trial had to be held within seven days of the request for jury trial. LaFountain stated that this

could be waived by respondent. The court, attempting to stay within the confines of the

statute, denied LaFountain’s request for a delay of the trial. LaFountain stated his intent to

object to denial of the continuance. At that point, T.M. interjected and said it would be fine

with him if a psychiatrist from Warm Springs examined him. Judge McKittrick ordered the

exam be performed at Warm Springs.

¶13    Thus, at this point LaFountain had asked for a continuance specifically to obtain an

evaluation by a professional of T.M.’s choosing. No mention had yet been made concerning

the necessity of securing an expert on homelessness. The court denied the motion for

continuance. However, T.M. agreed to be examined by a psychiatrist from Warm Springs

and the court had so ordered. The denial of a continuance to obtain an examination by

someone other than the Warm Springs psychiatrist has not been appealed.

¶14    On the day of trial, prior to T.M.’s arrival at court, LaFountain informed Judge

Sandefur, who had assumed jurisdiction, that T.M. had been evaluated by Dr. Shet at Warm

Springs. LaFountain again questioned whether this was appropriate given that Dr. Shet is

a State doctor. Additionally, LaFountain made an observation that the time was too short

to obtain the services of an expert witness who could testify as to the lifestyles and self-

sufficiency of homeless, mentally ill persons. LaFountain stated as follows:

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       Another difficulty in this is that, depending on what section the client is
       charged under, other experts become important and . . . the State has to show
       that if he did not undergo treatment that he would deteriorate. And in such a
       situation an expert could be very beneficial to the respondent. An expert that
       knows about homeless people and the life they live, because a large number
       of our homeless people are mentally ill, persons who are not on medications
       and not undergoing treatment and they survive. That type of testimony could
       help us overcome the State’s testimony in this case. But not having a
       continuance, it’s highly unlikely that we could find an expert to come in and
       testify in that regard.

¶15    T.M. does not argue on appeal that he was unlawfully denied access to a second

professional opinion. Rather, T.M.’s brief on appeal argues that this pre-trial dialogue was

equivalent to making a motion for a continuance to secure an expert witness on homelessness

which the District Court improperly denied.

¶16    However, LaFountain never actually made a motion for continuance to obtain such

an expert as evidenced by the following:

       Court: So having stated that background, Mr. LaFountain, it’s my
       understanding that, I want to confirm this, that you’re basic issue here as far
       as the time period goes, or discussion of the continuance is not that Judge
       McKittrick has perhaps improperly refused to grant you a continuance, but
       that there is an inherent conflict in the statutory time requirement of 53-21-125
       on the one hand, and the respondent’s desire and need to conduct sufficient
       pretrial preparation on the other. Specifically, to locate, if necessary an
       acceptable professional person, independent professional person to conduct an
       evaluation; is that correct?

       LaFountain: Yes, your Honor. I believe there is inherent conflict. I’m not
       prepared to - I’m just saying there it is. The legislature has made it. They said
       you have to have the trial within seven days . . . . 53-21-125 says that, so it
       puts us in a position that is very hard to get a doctor for that second opinion,
       and it is also very hard to round up other experts if they were needed, such as
       I indicated in this case. We could certainly use an expert in regard to the lives
       of homeless people, their mental illness, and if they’re able to live a life out.

       Court: Very well. I understand. So having made that record, it’s my
       understanding from our discussions that when we in the chambers, you wanted

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       to make the record for potential appeal on this issue, but you saw that there
       was at least no statutory reason at this point in time to - that would bar us from
       proceeding today; is that correct?

       LaFountain: That’s correct, your Honor.

¶17    Having made a confusing record for potential appeal, LaFountain agreed to proceed

with trial as required by the statutory scheme. That there was no motion for continuance to

obtain an expert witness eliminates the implication that the District Court erred in denying

such request. The court was not presented with anything to deny. We do not address issues

raised for the first time on appeal because it is unfair to fault the trial court on an issue it was

never given opportunity to consider. In re Marriage of Killpack, 2004 MT 55, ¶ 10, 320

Mont. 186, ¶ 10, 87 P.3d 393, ¶ 10.

¶18    T.M.’s argument on appeal with respect to procurement of an expert witness on

homelessness is that counsel was ineffective for failing to procure such an expert. This also

includes any allegation that counsel was ineffective because he did not make a motion to

continue the trial to secure such an expert opinion, assuming such was available. We believe

this argument misses the point. Section 53-21-126(1), MCA, states that, “[t]he trial must

be limited to the determination of whether or not the respondent is suffering from a mental

disorder and requires commitment. At the trial, the court shall consider all the facts relevant

to the issues of whether the respondent is suffering from a mental disorder.” This statute

specifically limits the presentation of evidence to that which is relevant to a particular

respondent’s condition. At trial LaFountain argued that:

       [D]epending on what section the client is charged under, other experts become
       important and . . . the State has to show that if he did not undergo treatment
       that he would deteriorate. And in such a situation an expert could be very

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        beneficial to the respondent. An expert that knows about homeless people and
        the life that they live, because a large number of our homeless people are
        mentally ill, persons who are not on medications and not undergoing treatment
        and they survive. That type of testimony could help us overcome the State’s
        testimony in this case. But not having a continuance, it’s highly unlikely that
        we could find an expert to come in and testify in that regard.

¶19     While we agree that the strict time constraints make advocacy challenging, on balance

we do not believe the District Court abused its discretion. LaFountain may have been

correct in stating that an expert opinion such as he described might, if available, have been

evidence that some mentally ill homeless people are able to survive. Yet, the statute clearly

mandates that evidence be limited to respondent’s own particular set of circumstances. We

must acknowledge the likelihood that some mentally ill homeless persons survive untreated,

but we are tasked with determining whether an individual, in this case T.M., with his

particular problems, would be able to do so.       As pointed out by the State, any testimony

given by an expert witness on the general tendencies of the mentally ill homeless would not

have rebutted the testimony offered by the State that T.M. himself was not capable of

surviving on his own.

¶20     Based on the record before us, we conclude that LaFountain did not ineffectively

represent T.M.

                                          Issue Two

¶21     Whether the District Court erred in allowing T.M. to remain in the courtroom during

his trial.

¶22     On appeal, T.M. states that he made several outbursts during voir dire that potentially

prejudiced his case.

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¶23    T.M. had a statutory right to be present at his trial. Section 53-21-116, MCA. Under

§ 53-21-119(1), MCA, a respondent can waive his rights, or if respondent is not capable of

making intentional and knowing decisions his rights can be waived at the request of his

attorney and friend. Under § 53-21-119(2), MCA, the right to be present at trial can be

waived via a joint request by respondent’s attorney and friend, with the concurrence of the

judge and the professional person if:

       (a) the presence of the respondent at the hearing would be likely to seriously
       adversely affect his mental condition; and
       (b) an alternative location for the hearing in surroundings familiar to the
       respondent would not prevent such adverse effects on his mental condition.

¶24    Before T.M. arrived at trial, LaFountain informed the court that it was likely that

T.M. would be aggressive toward counsel. LaFountain was concerned that this would

prejudice T.M. to the jury and wanted the court to be aware that he would ask for a recess

to remove T.M. if he felt it necessary. LaFountain also told the court that he had had no

contact with T.M.’s appointed friend, that the friend had not appeared at the hearings, and

that he did not believe that the friend had had contact with T.M. He suggested that a new

friend be appointed. Mr. Anderson then informed the court that the appointed friend was ill

and in the hospital.

¶25    Mr. Anderson went on to explain to the court that in prior cases the waiver provisions

of § 53-21-119(2), MCA, had typically only been invoked when a respondent was so ill or

incapacitated that to bring him to court would require extraordinary effort and would so

disrupt his routine or lifestyle that more harm than good would result. Anderson instead

likened the situation to one in which an uncooperative defendant became unruly in court and

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had to be removed to ensure a fair trial. The court and LaFountain agreed that § 53-21-

119(2), MCA, was not applicable to the situation at hand. The court, however, was

sympathetic to LaFountain’s invocation of § 53-21-119(1), MCA, which allows counsel and

the friend to waive a respondent’s right to be present if respondent is not capable of making

a knowing decision. At the same time, the court was also very concerned that T.M. not be

excluded if it were not absolutely necessary.

       Court: I guess my concern . . . is that don’t just focus on the constitutional of
       his right to fair trial and overlook his statutory right to be present and the right
       under 53-21-119, to waive that. I understand the argument of both counsel
       that yes, we could waive it under that statute. If the friend was here, if we
       appointed a new friend. You’re also asserting to me, both of you, as I
       understand it, that you feel that the Court could independently remove him
       from the facts of this case, understood to remove his right in order to have a
       fair trial.

       LaFountain: I believe that’s correct your Honor. . . .

       Court: Okay. Very well then. What we will do then is when he gets on site
       here, I think that at a minimum we should have him here in chambers and
       speak with him. If you want to consult with him prior . . . that would be fine.
       And I would recommend that you do so and then if you will bring him in here
       and if you’re prepared to make a motion to exclude him . . . for the reasons
       that we have discussed, I will entertain that and discuss or question him at that
       time and make some sort of an assessment as to what I think about that. If
       you’re not prepared to make that motion we are going to proceed with the
       trial.

¶26    When T.M. arrived the court reminded him what the proceedings were about, offered

him a chance to make objections, and warned him that he had to behave in the courtroom.

       Court: I have also been informed that you’re a little bit upset and maybe on the
       fight a little bit and that there is some concern that if you are that you might
       cause a disruption in the courtroom and interrupt the proceeding, but more
       importantly, seriously effect your ability to get a fair trial. Because if there’s
       any kind of disturbance in there you don’t want the jury to think badly of you
       because you’re upset. Do you understand that?

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       T.M.: Yes and no. What makes you think - I have been nothing . . .

       Court: That’s why we are having this discussion, to make sure so that you can
       . . . . I want you to be there. And you want to be there too, but I need to tell
       you that you need to, you know, conduct yourself in there with ordered
       fashion and I will listen to what you have to say at the appropriate time.

       T.M.: I understand.

       Court: Is it your intent to go?

       T.M.: I will be very obedient.

With this and a number of subsequent assurances from T.M. that his behavior would be

appropriate, the court proceeded to voir dire.

¶27    At the beginning of voir dire T.M. blurted out, “Sir, I call a mockosoona trial. I’d like

that noted. There’s more than three jurors that never showed up. This case should be

thrown out of court or I’m going to sue the State.” To which the court responded, “Your

objection is noted [T.M.]. We are going to proceed.” Toward the end of LaFountain’s initial

voir dire T.M. broke in and stated, “I’d like 163, 169, 174a, 118, 237a, nine and three. I’d

like them all noted please.” Later, as LaFountain was further examining jurors, T.M. broke

in and said, “Hard to believe he’s my lawyer isn’t it? He might as well work for the other

side, excuse me, Judge.”

¶28    After jury selection, but outside the presence of the jury, LaFountain renewed his

request for T.M. to be removed from the courtroom. His primary concern was that T.M.’s

family would be testifying against T.M. and that their testimony would severely agitate him.

Anderson shared LaFountain’s concern and did not oppose the request. The court, on the

other hand, was still concerned with violating T.M.’s fundamental right to be present and

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analogized the situation to the high burden that must be met to exclude a criminal defendant

from his trial.

       Court: I guess what’s in conflict here is my duty to make sure that [T.M.] is
       afforded a fair trial here, is bumping up against the issue of - or the duty to try
       to - responsibility to try to protect him from prejudicing his own right to a fair
       trial. Which is an interesting conflict. But, [T.M.], what do you think about
       this?

       T.M.: I will be quite [sic] and watch.

The court continued further in his explanation of the circumstances to T.M. at the end of

which T.M. stated, “Thank you. That’s all I wanted to know. I will be quite [sic] and be

respectful.”

¶29    There is no evidence in the record that T.M. made any further outbursts during trial.

While counsel alleges in an affidavit appended to his brief on appeal that T.M. continued to

mutter and mumble disparaging comments from the counsel table loudly enough to be heard

by the jury, we are left with the fact that none of them were apparently disruptive enough to

cause the court to reprimand T.M., nor to cause counsel to seek a recess to reconsider T.M.’s

presence in the courtroom. Further, the affidavit is not part of the record pursuant to Rule

9(a), M.R.App.P., and will not be regarded as evidence in this appeal.

¶30    T.M. made three relatively innocuous statements during voir dire. He then settled

down and was calm for the remainder of trial. This record does not justify a conclusion by

this court that T.M.’s behavior was so prejudicial that the jury would not have been able to

take an objective look at the evidence presented. The District Court was quite cognizant of

the need to protect T.M.’s rights and we hold that it did not abuse its discretion in allowing

T.M. to remain in the courtroom.

                                                11
                                       Issue Three

¶31    Whether the District Court erred in denying T.M.’s request for continuance to obtain

private counsel.

¶32    At the initial hearing, the court advised T.M. of his rights under § 53-21-115, MCA.

T.M. stated that he understood his rights and requested a jury trial. The court told T.M. to

have his attorney file papers requesting a jury trial and also advised T.M. to speak with his

attorney about whether to seek an independent evaluation.           T.M. said, “okay,” and

LaFountain thanked the court. At the February 6, 2003, status hearing things again went

smoothly.

¶33    LaFountain ably advocated on T.M.’s behalf at both the initial hearing and the status

hearing, and there appeared to be no initial conflict between the two. On the day of trial,

LaFountain advised the court that he was concerned that the court-appointed “friend” was

ill and was unable to attend trial, and that T.M. might potentially prejudice his case by being

combative and having outbursts in front of the jury. LaFountain informed the court that

T.M. was angry with counsel for not having gotten “a second opinion.”

¶34    Upon T.M.’s arrival at trial, T.M. told Judge Sandefur, in chambers, that he wanted

a new court-appointed lawyer because LaFountain was incompetent and T.M. was “not

happy with what he’s done.” T.M. complained that LaFountain failed in not obtaining the

services of a professional to perform an independent evaluation on him, stating, “[h]e should

have set up a second opinion or even a third opinion from the psychologist to have me

judged. I think he’s less than competent.” When reminded by the court that he had been

seen by Dr. Shet, and informed by the court that LaFountain had said that T.M. and

                                              12
LaFountain were not accepting Dr. Shet’s report, T.M. contradicted LaFountain’s statements

and told the court that Dr. Shet’s opinion was “fine.” When pressed by the court about

whether he would accept Dr. Shet’s report, T.M. responded, “Yes, I will.” T.M. then

reiterated to the court that he did not want LaFountain as his lawyer. The court noted that

while it was aware of some issues between T.M. and LaFountain, there was no legal basis

to remove LaFountain as T.M.’s counsel.

¶35    T.M. protested again and the court informed him that if he had funds from which to

pay a private attorney, he could hire anyone he chose. T.M. asked the court for time to hire

a private attorney. The court asked T.M. if he had means to hire an attorney to which T.M.

responded, “I can make some calls and I can make it happen. I thought the State would have

a lawyer that would be more competent . . . . I realize this man is not on my side. He’s

riding the fence.” The court acknowledged T.M.’s concerns, but again concluded there was

no cause to remove LaFountain, and proceeded with the trial.

¶36        Section 53-21-117, MCA, allows that a respondent “may” secure an attorney of his

choice at his own expense. On appeal, T.M.’s sole claim is that because he made a “timely”

request for a continuance to hire new counsel that he is automatically entitled to a

continuance. There is no Montana case law interpreting this particular nuance of this

section.

¶37    While we mark significant distinctions between the purposes of commitment

proceedings and criminal proceedings, we believe that some attorney/client principles

embodied in our criminal jurisprudence are apropos to both. We have held that, “effective

assistance of counsel does not require that the defendant have confidence in appointed

                                              13
counsel.” State v. Colt (1992), 255 Mont. 399, 404, 843 P.2d 747, 750. We have held that

unless a defendant has made a good faith effort to obtain substitute counsel before the

scheduled trial date, a request for continuance to obtain counsel is dubious and fraught with

uncertainties and contingencies. State v. Garcia, 2003 MT 211, ¶¶ 21-22, 317 Mont. 73, ¶¶

21-22, 75 P.3d 313, ¶¶ 21-22.

¶38     In interpreting § 53-21-122(2), MCA, we have stated that upon a district court’s

appointment of counsel, a respondent may request different counsel or may retain alternative

representation “for good cause shown and based on compelling reasons . . . .” K.G.F., ¶ 72.

¶39    All of the foregoing suggest or demand that there be good cause and a compelling

reason shown when a respondent seeks to dismiss his counsel on the day of trial. We are

persuaded that this is the appropriate standard to apply to last minute requests to dismiss

court-appointed counsel.

¶40    In this case, T.M.’s only complaint at trial was that his attorney did not obtain for

him a second, independent, psychiatric evaluation, and that he felt that LaFountain was on

the fence. Yet T.M. himself agreed to evaluation by Dr. Shet at Warm Springs and later

insisted to the court that he would accept Dr. Shet’s evaluation. There is no other evidence

in the record suggesting that LaFountain did not advocate on T.M.’s behalf to the best of his

ability. The mere fact that T.M. repeatedly changed his mind about who he would accept

as an independent evaluator is not a sufficiently exceptional circumstance to justify

prolonging a trial in order for T.M. to “make some calls” when, considering T.M.’s indigent

status, it is highly unlikely that he would have found an attorney to take his case.

¶41    The District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for continuance.

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¶42   Affirmed.

                               /S/ JOHN WARNER

We Concur:

/S/ PATRICIA O. COTTER
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ JIM REGNIER
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART

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