Smedley v. Smedley

Jack Holt, Jr., Chief Justice.

The appellant, James E. Smedley, appeals from a probate judge’s finding that he had a mental illness and posed a clear and present danger to himself, which resulted in his being committed involuntarily to an out-of-state mental health receiving facility for a period of forty-five days pursuant to Act 861 of 1989, as codified in Ark. Code Ann. § 20-47-215 (Repl. 1991).

Mr. Smedley acknowledges that his case is moot, as the period of his involuntary hospitalization has past, yet he appeals on the grounds that we should review the trial court’s findings because the…