Key legal question
Whether the refusal of free legal assistance in the involuntary commitment proceedings violated Art. 29(3) of the Federal Constitution.
Extracted holding
Yes. Given the conflicting medical assessments, the seriousness of the interference, and the appellant's vulnerable position, legal counsel was required.
Extracted reasoning
Even where the facts are not complex, a person suffering from serious mental illness may still need counsel. The contradictory psychiatric reports made effective self-representation difficult, so the cantonal court should have favored legal aid in a borderline case.