In re the Detention of Johnson

¶1 Johnson was involuntarily committed under Washington’s emergent detention statute, RCW 71-.05.153. Mental health professionals at Harborview believed that, because of Johnson’s mental disorder, she was gravely disabled and presented an imminent risk of serious harm to herself and others. The hospital detained her for an initial 72 hours, then petitioned for another 14 days of involuntary treatment. RCW 71.05.153 does not provide for judicial review of the initial 72 hour emergency detention. Johnson argues that it violated due process to commit her without the opportunity for judicial…