involuntary medication
-
Colorado appeals court clarifies timeline for forcible medication cases
—
by
Colorado’s second-highest court clarified last month that judges are allowed to balance the urgent need to involuntarily medicate a person with their lawyer’s ability to prepare for the case on short notice. Under state law, judges must appoint a lawyer and hold a hearing within 10 days when they receive a request to forcibly medicate…
-
Colorado appeals court recognizes right to effective counsel in forced-medication cases
—
by
For the first time, Colorado’s second-highest court has recognized there is a right to effective assistance of counsel for people involved in criminal cases whom the government wishes to forcibly medicate. A three-judge panel relied on similar decisions from other states and the principle that involuntary medication proceedings can result in a loss of liberty,…
