Tuesday, October 2, 2001
Dale Edward Sjuts v. State of Florida

no. 01-95

Polk County


The State filed a petition to civilly commit Sjuts under the Jimmy Ryce Act. A public defender was appointed to represent Sjuts and filed counterclaims alleging that his civil rights had been violated during psychiatric evaluations. The State argued that a public defender had no authority to pursue civil rights claims on behalf of a defendant. The trial court dismissed the claims, and the Second District Court affirmed the dismissal.