Is expert testimony required in an involuntary commitment hearing?
Although not required, it is advisable to have expert testimony to support a petition to commit since the petitioner must prove that the person is mentally ill and other elements that would seem to call for an opinion beyond that of a lay person. A lay person may testify as to their opinion on a person’s sanity as long as they have had adequate opportunity to observe that respondent’s conduct and have either normal or abnormal behavior. A licensed general practitioner of medicine is considered an expert under Alabama law and may render expert testimony on a person’s sanity.
