In re Mental Health Actions for A.S., Sara Townsend

DAVID, Justice.

The Indiana Code provides a mechanism for individuals to seek immediate emergency treatment for individuals they believe to be a threat to themselves or others. Here, a woman’s co-worker completed an application to initiate just such a process, which led a trial court judge to issue a warrant for the woman’s detention and treatment. The judge later grew skeptical as to the truth of the allegations set forth in the application and ordered the co-worker to appear in court, found her in contempt, and imposed sanctions. Because we conclude that the trial court lacked the statutory…