John Doe, Petitioners v. State of Florida, Respondent

Summary

The court held that individuals facing involuntary inpatient placement under the Baker Act have a right to have the presiding judicial officer physically present at the commitment hearing unless the parties consent to participation through communication equipment. It concluded that the remote procedure violated both the governing procedural rule and the patients’ fundamental due process protections, and therefore quashed the Second District’s decision and remanded. Justice Canady, concurring in result, would have resolved the case solely under the procedural rule governing testimony through communication equipment.