Washington State Supreme Court Rules Involuntary Commitment Hearings Must Be Open to the Public

 Justice Pro Tem., Richard Sanders, writes the majority opinion in re the Detention of D.F.F. 
declaring, in effect:  

It is unconstitutional to hold Involuntary Commitment proceedings in secret.  

via Temple of Justice:The History, People and Cases of the Washington State Supreme Court 


In re detention of D.F.F. SANDERS, J. 
—"We are asked to decide whether Superior Court Mental Proceedings Rules (MPR) 1.3, which provides involuntary commitment proceedings “shall not be open to the public, unless the person who is the subject of the proceedings or his attorney files with the court a written request that the proceedings be public,”  

Majority Opinion, written by Richard Sanders    

Temple of Justice    

"I believe we must speak our conscience in moments that demand it, 

even if we are but one voice" 

Richard Sanders