In re: Todd McElroy

  • Filed: 03/28/2006
  • Status: Closed
  • Latest Update: Mar 28, 2006
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Summary

Friend of the court” brief addressing whether the civil commitment hearing of a convicted sex offender should be public. The brief, citing the quasi-criminal nature of the detention and the state’s questionable use of the mental health statute in this instance, argued that the proceedings should be open at least in part, but that the defendant’s confidential healthcare information deserved privacy protection in the proceedings. The court ruled that the proceedings would be closed.

Attorney(s):
Katherine Powell

News & Commentary

Jan 25, 2006

ACLU Files Brief in McElroy Civil Commitment Case

The ACLU of Rhode Island has filed a “friend of the court” brief addressing the issue whether the civil commitment hearing of convicted sex offender Todd McElroy should be public. In this highly publicized case, the Governor and Attorney General took steps to invoke the mental health civil commitment process just weeks before McElroy’s 17-year prison sentence was scheduled to end. The ACLU and a number of medical groups have been very critical of the state’s efforts in that regard.

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News & Commentary
Jan 25, 2006
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  • Criminal Justice|
  • +1 Issue

ACLU Files Brief in McElroy Civil Commitment Case

The ACLU of Rhode Island has filed a “friend of the court” brief addressing the issue whether the civil commitment hearing of convicted sex offender Todd McElroy should be public. In this highly publicized case, the Governor and Attorney General took steps to invoke the mental health civil commitment process just weeks before McElroy’s 17-year prison sentence was scheduled to end. The ACLU and a number of medical groups have been very critical of the state’s efforts in that regard.