District of Columbia § 21-547 Judicial determination of petition filed under section 21-546; order; psychiatrists and qualified psychologists as witnesses.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 21-547 — Judicial determination of petition filed under section 21-546; order; psychiatrists and qualified psychologists as witnesses.

District of Columbia § 21-547

Title 21Fiduciary Relations and Persons with Mental Illness. [Enacted title]

Ch. 5Hospitalization of Persons with Mental Illness.

Subch. IVCommitment Under Court Order.

This text of District of Columbia § 21-547 (Judicial determination of petition filed under section 21-546; order; psychiatrists and qualified psychologists as witnesses.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 21-547 (2026).

Text

(a)In considering a petition filed under § 21-546 , the court shall consider the testimony of the psychiatrists or qualified psychologists who participated in the examination of the committed person, and the reports of the psychiatrists or qualified psychologists accompanying the petition. After considering the testimony and reports, the court shall either:

(1)Reject the petition and order the continued commitment of the person; or

(2)Order the chief clinical officer of the Department or the chief of service for the hospital, facility, or mental health provider to immediately implement the least restrictive treatment or immediately release the committed person from the commitment.

(b)A psychiatrist or qualified psychologist participating in the examination of the committed perso

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(a) In considering a petition filed under § 21-546 , the court shall consider the testimony of the psychiatrists or qualified psychologists who participated in the examination of the committed person, and the reports of the psychiatrists or qualified psychologists accompanying the petition. After considering the testimony and reports, the court shall either:

(1) Reject the petition and order the continued commitment of the person; or

(2) Order the chief clinical officer of the Department or the chief of service for the hospital, facility, or mental health provider to immediately implement the least restrictive treatment or immediately release the committed person from the commitment.

(b) A psychiatrist or qualified psychologist participating in the examination of the committed person shall be a competent and compellable witness at any trial or hearing held pursuant to this chapter.

Legislative History

Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 757, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(a)(14), 30 DCR 5778; Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(w), 50 DCR 917