William S. Bigley, Appellant v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Appellee

Summary

The court held that the appeal was technically moot but reviewable under the public interest exception because involuntary-medication proceedings present recurring issues that are likely to evade review. It declared that due process requires adequate notice of the proposed medication treatment, advance access to medical and psychiatric records, and judicial discretion to allow more than seventy-two hours to prepare for the constitutional inquiries into best interests and less intrusive alternatives. The court upheld the finding that Bigley's proposed alternative was not feasible or effective, but declined to review whether medication was in his best interests because that issue was moot and the proceedings had denied him adequate preparation.