Rule 293.Jury Trial in Involuntary Admission Proceeding
Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part K. Miscellaneous · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 293 requires courts to schedule a jury trial within 30 days of a request in an involuntary mental-health admission case, and caps most continuances at 15 days.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 293
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Upon request by a respondent for a jury trial on whether he/she is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient or outpatient basis in accordance with 405 ILCS 5/3-802, the court shall schedule said jury trial to commence within 30 days of the request.
Any continuance of the jury trial setting shall not extend beyond 15 days, except to the extent that continuances are requested by the respondent pursuant to 405 ILCS 5/3-800(b).
Plain-English Summary
Someone facing involuntary admission on an inpatient or outpatient basis under the Mental Health Code can request a jury trial on whether that admission should happen. Once requested, the court has to schedule the trial within 30 days.
Continuances of that trial date are limited to 15 days, except when the respondent asks for more time under the Mental Health Code’s own continuance provision. The tight timeline makes the deadline mandatory rather than aspirational, and a commitment petition that isn’t timely set for hearing can be dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly must a court schedule a jury trial once requested in an involuntary admission case?
Within 30 days of the request.
Can the trial date be pushed back?
Only by a limited continuance, capped at 15 days, unless the respondent requests more time.
Who can request the jury trial?
The respondent — the person facing involuntary admission.
What happens if the court doesn’t set a timely hearing?
The involuntary-commitment petition can be subject to dismissal.
Does this rule cover outpatient commitment too?
Yes — it applies to requests for jury trial on inpatient or outpatient involuntary admission.
Committee Comments
This rule was adopted to clarify the time limitation that a trial court has in which to convene a jury in a mental health commitment hearing and to make that requirement mandatory. Any mental health petition for involuntary commitment not timely set for hearing is subject to dismissal.
Amendment History
Adopted April 3, 2017, eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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