Illinois § 25

§ 25.

Rights of persons subject to petition. (a) Any person who is the subject of a petition filed under Section 15 of this Act shall be served with a copy of the petition in accordance with the Civil Practice Law. (b) The circuit court in which a petition under Section 15 of this Act is filed shall conduct all hearings under this Act. The court shall give the person who is the subject of the petition reasonable notice of the time and place of each such hearing. The court may designate additional persons to receive these notices. (c) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of Section 65 and Section 70 of this Act, at any hearing conducted under this Act, the person who is the subject of the petition has the right: (1) To be present and to be represented by counsel. If the person is indigent, the court shall appoint counsel. (2) To remain silent. (3) To present and cross-examine witnesses. (4) To have the hearing recorded by a court reporter. (d) The person who is the subject of the petition, the person's attorney, the Attorney General or the State's Attorney may request that a trial under Section 35 of this Act be to a jury. A verdict of a jury under this Act is not valid unless it is unanimous. (e) Whenever the person who is the subject of the petition is required to submit to an examination under this Act, he or she may retain experts or professional persons to perform an examination. The State has the right to have the person evaluated by an expert chosen by the State. All examiners retained by or appointed for any party shall have reasonable access to the person for the purpose of the examination, as well as to the person's past and present treatment records and patient health care records. If the person is indigent, the court shall, upon the person's request, appoint a qualified and available expert or professional person to perform an examination. Upon the order of the circuit court, the county shall pay, as part of the costs of the action, the costs of a court-appointed expert or professional person to perform an examination and participate in the trial on behalf of an indigent person. (Source: P.A. 96-1128, eff. 1-1-11.)