91
Submitted April 3, reversed May 6, 2020
In the Matter of S. E. R.,
a Person Alleged to have Mental Illness.
STATE OF OREGON,
Respondent,
v.
S. E. R.,
Appellant.
Lane County Circuit Court
19CC06362; A172950
Maurice K. Merten, Judge.
Joseph R. DeBin and Multnomah Defenders, Inc., filed
the brief for appellant.
Ellen F. Rosenblum, Attorney General, Benjamin Gutman,
Solicitor General, and Joanna L. Jenkins, Assistant Attorney
General, filed the brief for respondent.
Before Lagesen, Presiding Judge, and Powers, Judge, and
Kamins, Judge.
PER CURIAM
Reversed.
92 State v. S. E. R.
PER CURIAM
Appellant seeks reversal of a judgment committing her to the Mental Health Division for a period not to
exceed 180 days, based on a finding that she suffers from a
mental disorder and is dangerous to herself. ORS 426.130.
Appellant was detained and hospitalized based on a physician’s hold on November 24, 2019. On November 28, 2019,
the court, on its own motion, ordered the matter continued
until December 4, 2019.
At the hearing, appellant did not raise any issue
concerning the postponement. She argues on appeal, however, that the court plainly erred in postponing the hearing
on its own motion and not holding a hearing within five days
of her detention. The state concedes the error, and we agree.
A court is required to hold a hearing such as this within five
judicial days of the appellant’s detention. State v. L. O. W.,
(2018) (stating same). A
court may postpone such a hearing for an additional five
days to allow a party to prepare for a hearing “[i]f requested,”
based on a finding of “good cause.” ORS 426.095(2)(c). As we
explained in State v. J. O. B.,
(2019), ORS 426.095(2)(c) does not authorize a court to
postpone a hearing on its own motion. We conclude that the
error is plain, and we exercise discretion to correct the error.
See State v. R. W. S.,