Suzuki v. Yuen

617 F.2d 173 Sharon SUZUKI, on behalf of herself and all other persons similarly situated, Plaintiffs-Appellees, and Rosita T. Alba and Jane Doe, Intervenors-Appellees, v. George YUEN, in his capacity as Director of Health, State of Hawaii, Defendant-Appellant. Nos. 78-1830, 78-3190. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. April 16, 1980. Leo B. Young, Deputy Atty. Gen., Honolulu, Hawaii, argued for defendant-appellant; Ronald Y. Amemiya, Atty. Gen., Honolulu, Hawaii, on the brief. Paul Alston, Honolulu, Hawaii, Robert Plotkin, Washington, D. C., for plaintiffs-appellees. Before WRIGHT, GOODWIN and SCHROEDER, Circuit Judges. EUGENE A. WRIGHT, Circuit Judge: 1 We here review in No. 78-1830 the constitutionality of Hawaii's statutory procedures for the involuntary commitment of mental patients. The district court in a four part opinion held four provisions of the statute unconstitutional. It ruled correctly that the present statute unconstitutionally permits commitment of a person dangerous to any property, and that the statute unconstitutionally fails to require a showing of imminent danger before commitment. 2 Contrary to the district court's ruling, however we hold that…