Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Right to Counsel
Respondent voluntarily admitted himself to hospital for mental health treatment, and admitting physician filed petition for administration of psychotropic medications. Court improperly denied Respondent's right to waive counsel. In failing to question Respondent before denying his request to represent himself at hearing, court had insufficient information to conclude that Respondent lacked capacity to waive counsel.
(CARTER, concurring; SCHMIDT, specially concurring.)