{ "id": 351056, "name": "In re C. RODNEY YODER (C. Rodney Yoder, Petitioner-Appellant, v. The People of the State of Illinois, Respondent-Appellee)", "name_abbreviation": "Yoder v. People", "decision_date": "1997-06-24", "docket_number": "No. 5\u201496\u20140412", "first_page": "465", "last_page": "474", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "289 Ill. App. 3d 465" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "544 N.E.2d 1235", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1237" }, { "page": "1237" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "189 Ill. App. 3d 289", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2681444 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "291" }, { "page": "291" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/189/0289-01" ] }, { "cite": "653 N.E.2d 73", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "76" }, { "page": "76" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "273 Ill. App. 3d 287", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 258557 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "290-91" }, { "page": "290-91" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/273/0287-01" ] }, { "cite": "554 N.E.2d 494", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "500" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "196 Ill. App. 3d 413", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2488040 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "422-23" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/196/0413-01" ] }, { "cite": "613 N.E.2d 740", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "744-45" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "155 Ill. 2d 188", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4810501 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "197" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/155/0188-01" ] }, { "cite": "664 N.E.2d 61", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "65" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "171 Ill. 2d 230", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 57346 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "237" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/171/0230-01" ] }, { "cite": "426 N.E.2d 275", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "278" }, { "page": "278" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "99 Ill. App. 3d 847", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3100495 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "848" }, { "page": "850" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/99/0847-01" ] }, { "cite": "616 N.E.2d 714", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "725" }, { "page": "725" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "247 Ill. App. 3d 234", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2927696 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "249" }, { "page": "249" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/247/0234-01" ] }, { "cite": "642 N.E.2d 893", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "896" }, { "page": "895" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "267 Ill. App. 3d 692", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 333064 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "696" }, { "page": "695" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/267/0692-01" ] }, { "cite": "651 N.E.2d 1105", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1112" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "166 Ill. 2d 165", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 198916 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "181" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/166/0165-01" ] }, { "cite": "677 N.E.2d 972", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "171 Ill. 2d 586", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "672 N.E.2d 296", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "300" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "284 Ill. App. 3d 506", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1260341 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "509" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/284/0506-01" ] }, { "cite": "667 N.E.2d 109", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "114" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "281 Ill. App. 3d 467", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 150150 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "473" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/281/0467-01" ] }, { "cite": "655 N.E.2d 1211", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1213" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "275 Ill. App. 3d 64", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 906714 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "67" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/275/0064-01" ] }, { "cite": "666 N.E.2d 1209", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1211" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "281 Ill. App. 3d 497", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 150227 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "499" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/281/0497-01" ] }, { "cite": "664 N.E.2d 61", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "65" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "171 Ill. 2d 230", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 57346 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "237" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/171/0230-01" ] }, { "cite": "616 N.E.2d 714", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "725" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "247 Ill. App. 3d 234", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2927696 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "249" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/247/0234-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 842, "char_count": 21618, "ocr_confidence": 0.765, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.103671103132579e-08, "percentile": 0.5060366453797114 }, "sha256": "6f26652992e7206a74532bb4e6bf32a0a4cc1aea25c0f43216d1a9347af0741f", "simhash": "1:6bec7efd1f55ac4c", "word_count": 3619 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:29:08.370768+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "In re C. RODNEY YODER (C. Rodney Yoder, Petitioner-Appellant, v. The People of the State of Illinois, Respondent-Appellee)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE CHAPMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPetitioner Claude Rodney Yoder appeals from the May 29; 1996, order of the Randolph County circuit court granting the State\u2019s motion for a directed finding on his petition for discharge from the custody of the Chester Mental Health Facility. He asserts that the court erred because it (1) failed to appoint an independent examiner to assess his mental status, (2) denied his request for a jury trial, (3) refused to allow him to waive counsel and represent himself, and (4) granted the State\u2019s motion for a directed finding on his petition. He also asserts that appointed counsel provided him with ineffective assistance. We hold that petitioner failed to make a prima facie case for discharge and that the court properly found him unable to either waive counsel or represent himself, but that the court erred in denying his request in regard to an independent examination and in denying his request for a jury trial. In view of our rulings on these issues, we need not pass upon the issue of the effectiveness of counsel.\nIn a jury trial conducted on March 26, 1996, petitioner was found to be a person in need of continued involuntary commitment due to his presentation of a threat of danger to others. On May 23, 1996, he filed a pro se petition for discharge or modification of his commitment order, pursuant to the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (Code). 405 ILCS 5/1 \u2014 100 et seq. (West 1994). The petition, which was unsupported by affidavits, alleged that the Department of Mental Health (Department) was no longer providing him with appropriate therapy as of March 28, 1996; that he had been removed from the case load of Sydelle C. Warshauer and placed in treatment with a therapist and a psychiatrist he described as \"two litigants with [petitioner]\u201d; that he was being provided with custodial care only; that mental health advocates were currently attempting to get appropriate care for him; that bogus allegations of misconduct had been made against him, thwarting a transfer to another unit in the system; that his current caregivers were attempting to prescribe inappropriate drug treatment for his mental problems; and that his mental status did not warrant his confinement in his current, restrictive placement. He demanded that his petition be set for a trial by jury, that counsel be appointed to represent him, and that an independent examiner be appointed to assess him.\nThe petition was set for hearing on May 29, 1996. Petitioner was represented by Rayburn Fricke, his appointed counsel at the time of the trial at which his involuntary commitment was continued. Counsel informed the court that, during his discussion with petitioner prior to the appearance, petitioner told him that he wished to represent himself and that he wanted a jury trial on the petition. The demand for a jury trial was denied by the court after the State asserted that the applicable statutes did not provide for a jury trial on petitions for discharge and counsel could cite no authority for petitioner\u2019s position. Petitioner\u2019s demand to represent himself was denied without the court making inquiry of petitioner.\nWhen the court asked petitioner if he wished to testify, he asserted that he did want to do so, \"but in a real legal proceeding, not a kangaroo proceeding.\u201d Petitioner, having told the court that he wanted to be represented by counsel, but not the one appointed for him, then left the courtroom. He asserted prior to his departure that he was not waiving any of his rights, but that the court was waiving them for him, and that he wanted to leave. Counsel presented no evidence, and the court granted the State\u2019s motion for a directed finding and denied the petition for discharge, based on petitioner\u2019s failure to present any evidence to substantiate the allegations of the petition.\nI\nPetitioner maintains that, under section 3 \u2014 804 of the Code (405 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 804 (West 1994)), he had a right to be examined by an independent examiner to determine whether discharge or modification of his treatment was warranted. The State contends that, because petitioner failed to properly support his petition for discharge and present a prima facie case for discharge that the State would then be compelled to counter, the court was under no duty to appoint an independent examiner.\nPetitioner cites the decision in In re Katz, 267 Ill. App. 3d 692, 642 N.E.2d 893 (1994), and the decision in In re Barnard, 247 Ill. App. 3d 234, 616 N.E.2d 714 (1993), in support of his assertion that he was entitled to an independent examiner. In Katz, although the reviewing court found that the respondent did not establish a prima facie case for discharge via her petition and testimony, it held that \"nothing in the format for the procedure for a discharge hearing negates application of section 3 \u2014 804 of the Code to entitle a respondent to an examination by an independent expert before a hearing on a petition for discharge.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Katz, 267 Ill. App. 3d at 696, 642 N.E.2d at 896. In Barnard, the respondent appealed from a finding that he was subject to continued involuntary admission to a mental health facility and raised, inter alla, the issue of whether he was entitled to an examination by an independent examiner who was not an employee of the Department of Mental Health. This court held that \"section 3 \u2014 804 of the Code applies with equal force to both petitions for discharge and petitions for involuntary admission\u201d (emphasis added) (Barnard, 247 Ill. App. 3d at 249, 616 N.E.2d at 725) and found that an employee of the Mental Health Department was capable of performing an impartial examination. See also our decision in In re Pates, 99 Ill. App. 3d 847, 848, 426 N.E.2d 275, 278 (1981), where the respondent filed a petition for discharge on September 25, 1981, a State-employed psychologist examined him on September 30, 1981, and on October 1, 1981, defense counsel sought the appointment of an \"impartial medical expert\u201d to aid in the preparation for a hearing on his petition for discharge. We found that it was proper for an examiner employed by the State to provide an independent examination, in the absence of questions about his competence, his impartiality, or the thoroughness of his examination. Pates, 99 Ill. App. 3d at 850, 426 N.E.2d at 278.\nWe do not believe, given the precedent in Katz, that it is necessary for petitioner to first establish a prima facie case for discharge before he is entitled to appointment of an independent expert to examine him. However, we do not feel compelled to follow the court\u2019s holding in Katz that the State must pay for an examiner chosen by a party petitioning for discharge, at State expense, who is not an employee of the Department of Mental Health. Our decision in Barnard reflects our continuing conviction that such a party is not entitled to choose his own appointed examiner and that an examiner who is affiliated with the Department of Mental Health is a proper, impartial examiner, in the absence of evidence to the contrary.\nWe find that petitioner was entitled to the appointment of an independent examination prior to the hearing on his petition for discharge and that the trial court erred when it failed to make the appointment.\nII\nPetitioner next argues that he was entitled to have a jury hear his petition for discharge because, under section 3 \u2014 901(b) of the Code, article VIII of chapter III of the Code, which governs court hearings, \"applies to hearings held under this Section.\u201d 405 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 901(b) (West 1994). The State contends that, because section 3 \u2014 901 repeatedly indicates that the court shall control the setting of hearings and enter orders relating to petitions for discharge, the plain language militates in favor of holding that the jury trial provisions of section 3 \u2014 802 (405 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 802 (West 1994)) apply to adjudications of involuntary admission only.\nUnder section 3 \u2014 802, \"The respondent is entitled to a jury on the question of whether he is subject to involuntary admission.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 405 ILCS 5/3\u2014802 (West 1994). In interpreting a statute, the objective of the court is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature, and the most reliable indicator of legislative intent is the language of the statute, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning. Boaden v. Department of Law Enforcement, 171 Ill. 2d 230, 237, 664 N.E.2d 61, 65 (1996). If the statutory language is clear and unambiguous, the court should generally apply the statute without further aids to statutory construction. People v. Bole, 155 Ill. 2d 188, 197, 613 N.E.2d 740, 744-45 (1993). The plain language of section 3 \u2014 802 would yield the conclusion that the right to a jury trial is afforded to only those parties who are the subject of involuntary admission to the Department.\nHowever, given our decision in Barnard, in which we found that the independent examination provision of article VIII applies \"with equal force\u201d to petitions for discharge and petitions for involuntary commitment (Barnard, 247 Ill. App. 3d at 249, 616 N.E.2d at 725), we cannot hold that the right to a jury trial contained in that article does not apply to discharge proceedings. The language of sec-tian 3 \u2014 901(b) dictates this application, given the language \"Article VIII of this Chapter applies to hearings held under this Section.\u201d 405 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 901(b) (West 1994). Article VIII\u2019s right to a jury trial is clear:\n\"The respondent is entitled to a jury on the question of whether he is subject to involuntary admission. The jury shall consist of 6 persons to be chosen in the same manner as are jurors in other civil proceedings.\u201d 405 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 802 (West 1994).\nPetitioner in this case seeks a discharge as he is currently committed against his will. Because his petition for discharge inherently concerns the subject of his involuntary commitment, we conclude that the right to a jury trial contained in section 3 \u2014 802 applies to discharge proceedings. Therefore, we find that the trial court erred when it denied petitioner\u2019s request for a jury trial on his petition for discharge.\nIll\nPetitioner contends that, under section 3 \u2014 805 of the Code (405 ILCS 5/3\u2014805 (West 1994)), the court erred by refusing to allow him to represent himself. This section allows a party to waive counsel, and represent himself if \"the court is satisfied that the [party] has the capacity to make an informed waiver of his right to counsel.\u201d 405 ILCS 5/3\u2014805 (West 1994).\nWhen petitioner\u2019s counsel first addressed the court, he stated that petitioner wished to represent himself on the petition. After the court denied that request, petitioner complained that attorney Fricke had not consulted with him at sufficient length, and the following exchange took place.\n\"THE COURT: Mr. Yoder, you have been down this road so many times, you know this procedure as well as I do. Do you want to testify here today, Mr. Yoder?\n[MR.] YODER: Yeah. I would like to be represented by counsel, your Honor.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nThe court denied petitioner\u2019s request for counsel other than attorney Fricke, and petitioner left the hearing after a heated exchange in which he declined to be sworn and to testify.\nPetitioner asserts that under In re Click, 196 Ill. App. 3d 413, 422-23, 554 N.E.2d 494, 500 (1990), the court had an affirmative duty to make inquiries to ascertain whether or not he was capable of waiving his right to counsel and proceeding pro se, whether the request was voluntary, the specifics of the request, and whether he had the requisite legal or educational background to represent himself.\nThe State argues that the exchange in which petitioner asked to be represented by counsel indicated that petitioner intended to abandon his request to represent himself and that he was attempting only to substitute some other counsel for attorney Fricke. In the alternative, the State contends that, because petitioner had been found incompetent to waive counsel or to represent himself at the March 25, 1996, hearing on the petition for continued involuntary commitment, the court could logically conclude that he continued to be unfit, particularly since the court was well acquainted with petitioner from past proceedings. It asserts that petitioner\u2019s display of temper, which culminated in his exit from the proceedings, supports the conclusion that he was unable to make informed decisions concerning the proceedings.\nIn In re Denby, 273 Ill. App. 3d 287, 290-91, 653 N.E.2d 73, 76 (1995), the court found that the respondent was not prejudiced by his waiver of counsel at the hearing on his petition for discharge despite the fact that the court did not question the respondent to determine whether he was competent to make that waiver. However, the court noted that the better policy is for the trial court to ask a few questions of the respondent to make certain that he understands the consequences of waiving counsel, but that it could not say that reversal was required on every occasion in which the trial court failed to do so, given that it was a discretionary call. Denby, 273 Ill. App. 3d at 290-91, 653 N.E.2d at 76.\nAlthough we, too, believe that it would have been appropriate for the court to make inquiry of petitioner in this case, given the history which the court and petitioner shared and the very recent determination that he was not capable of waiving counsel and proceeding pro se, we do not conclude that the court erred on this point. We would, however, suggest that the court be more careful in making such determinations in the future in order to minimize distress to the party seeking discharge and to delete at least one issue from the appeals that will arise from proceedings such as this one.\nIV\nPetitioner next asserts that the trial court committed reversible error because it granted the State\u2019s motion for a directed finding. He argues that, although the matter was not properly argued to the court at the time of the hearing, his petition was sufficient on its face to constitute a prima facie case for discharge or review of the order under which he was being treated and to compel the State to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he should continue to be subject to involuntary admission in the system and placement in the most secure forensic mental facility in the state.\nThe party seeking discharge from confinement has the burden of proving a prima facie case for discharge, after which point the State has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that discharge should be denied. In re Katz, 267 Ill. App. 3d 692, 695, 642 N.E.2d 893, 895 (1994). In Katz, the petitioner was sworn and testified in support of her petition; which was found to be insufficient to establish that she had a right to discharge. The reviewing court in In re Smoots, 189 Ill. App. 3d 289, 291, 544 N.E.2d 1235, 1237 (1989), found that the sworn statements of a person who has been found subject to involuntary admission under the Code constitute a prima facie case for discharge. In re Smoots, 189 Ill. App. 3d 289, 291, 544 N.E.2d 1235, 1237 (1989). In the instant case, petitioner\u2019s petition itself was not verified, nor was it accompanied by an affidavit attesting to the truth of the allegations contained therein. Moreover, although the court attempted to persuade petitioner to be sworn in order that he might testify in support of his petition, petitioner refused to be sworn and absented himself from the hearing on the petition, leaving counsel, who had intended to present only petitioner\u2019s testimony, to stand on the unverified petition. We cannot conclude on the basis of this record that petitioner established a prima facie case such that the burden of proof shifted to the State. The court thus was not in error when it granted the State\u2019s motion.\nBecause this matter must be returned to the circuit court of Randolph County for further proceedings, we need not address petitioner\u2019s contention that he was afforded ineffective assistance of counsel.\nReversed and remanded.\nGOLDENHERSH, J., concurs.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE CHAPMAN" }, { "text": "WELCH, J.,\nspecially concurring in part and dissenting in part:\nI agree that under this court\u2019s decision in Barnard petitioner was entitled to the appointment of an independent medical examiner to determine if he continued to be subject to involuntary commitment in connection with his petition for discharge. I also concur in the majority\u2019s holding that the trial court properly refused to allow petitioner to waive counsel and that a directed finding for the State was appropriate, as well as its determination that we need not address the issue of counsel\u2019s representation. I write separately because I do not believe that the extension of the Barnard decision by the majority is warranted and that petitioner was not entitled to a jury trial to determine whether he was entitled to discharge from the Department. I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority\u2019s opinion which holds that he is so entitled.\nUnder section 3 \u2014 802 of the Code, \"The respondent is entitled to a jury on the question of whether he is subject to involuntary admission.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 405 ILCS 5/3\u2014802 (West 1994). The majority concedes that, in interpreting a statute, the objective of the court is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature and that the most reliable indicator of legislative intent is the language of the statute, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning. Boaden v. Department of Law Enforcement, 171 Ill. 2d 230, 237, 664 N.E.2d 61, 65 (1996). Although in Barnard we found that the independent examination provision of article VIII applies \"with equal force\u201d to petitions for discharge and petitions for involuntary commitment (Barnard, 247 Ill. App. 3d at 249, 616 N.E.2d at 725), it does not necessarily follow that the right to a jury on the question of whether a respondent is subject to involuntary admission contained in that article should be extended to discharge proceedings.\nSection 3 \u2014 804 states that \"[a]ny such physician ***, whether secured by the respondent or appointed by the court, may interview by telephone or in person any witnesses or other persons listed in the petition for involuntary admission.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 405 ILCS 5/3\u2014804 (West 1994). Logically, an independent examiner for purposes of either an initial involuntary admission or a discharge proceeding would benefit from access to a person who had input to the initial petition for involuntary admission.\nThe language of section 3 \u2014 802, however, cannot be read so broadly. It states without equivocation, ambiguity, or the possibility of other interpretation that a respondent is entitled to a jury on the question of whether he is subject to involuntary admission. The plain language of section 3 \u2014 802 yields the conclusion that the right to a jury trial is afforded to only those respondents who are the subject of involuntary admission to the Department. The maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius is an aid to statutory construction, although it may give way if a clearer expression of legislative intent may be found elsewhere (Cremer v. City of Macomb Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, 281 Ill. App. 3d 497, 499, 666 N.E.2d 1209, 1211 (1996)), which I do not find in this instance. Courts are not at liberty to depart from the plain language and meaning of the statute by reading into it exceptions, limitations, or conditions that the legislature did not express. Klem v. First National Bank, 275 Ill. App. 3d 64, 67, 655 N.E.2d 1211, 1213 (1995). A statute that specifies one exception to a general rule excludes other exceptions by implication (In re Application of the County Collector, 281 Ill. App. 3d 467, 473, 667 N.E.2d 109, 114 (1996)), even in the absence of negative words of prohibition. Stern v. Norwest Mortgage, Inc., 284 Ill. App. 3d 506, 509, 672 N.E.2d 296, 300 (1996), appeal allowed, 171 Ill. 2d 586, 677 N.E.2d 972 (1997).\nApplying these principles to the case at bar, I believe that the language of section 3 \u2014 802 excludes the provision of a jury trial to determine if a person who files a petition for discharge should be subject to continued involuntary admission by the Department. To hold otherwise would be inconsistent with the stated intent of the legislature, to which the courts must give effect without considering additional indicia of legislative intent. First of America Bank, Rockford, N.A. v. Netsch, 166 Ill. 2d 165, 181, 651 N.E.2d 1105, 1112 (1995). The language of section 3 \u2014 901(b) does not preclude this application, given that the references to \"the court\u201d contained therein are ones that deal with administrative activities which are within the purview of the court, setting petitions for hearing, directing that notice be given of that hearing, and entering orders. None of these activities are ones that a jury may do in any event. Therefore, I would find that the trial court properly denied petitioner\u2019s request for a jury trial on his petition for discharge. For the reasons indicated, I concur in part and dissent in part.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "WELCH, J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Jeff M. Plesko, of Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, of Anna, for appellant.", "Darrell Williamson, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chester (Norbert J. Goetten, Stephen E. Norris, and Debra A. Buchman, all of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "In re C. RODNEY YODER (C. Rodney Yoder, Petitioner-Appellant, v. The People of the State of Illinois, Respondent-Appellee).\nFifth District\nNo. 5\u201496\u20140412\nOpinion filed June 24, 1997.\nJeff M. Plesko, of Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, of Anna, for appellant.\nDarrell Williamson, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chester (Norbert J. Goetten, Stephen E. Norris, and Debra A. Buchman, all of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0465-01", "first_page_order": 483, "last_page_order": 492 }