California Court of Appeal

Trial court order authorizing the forcible administration of psychotropic medications during treatment is affirmed where: 1) although defendant's absence from court during a hearing constituted a violation of his constitutional right to a fair hearing, the deprivation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt; 2) there is no recognized right to jury trial on the question of involuntary psychotropic medication during a proceeding involving a mentally disordered offender; and 3) substantial evidence supported the order.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/27/2009
• Published 03/27/2009

Judges

• COFFEE, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Jean Matulis, Oakland, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant., Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Pamela C. Hamanaka, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Paul R. Roadarmel, Jr., Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Eric J. Kohm, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.