# D.C. Code § 24-704: Right to counsel

> District of Columbia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-704

## Section

- **Citation:** D.C. Code § 24-704
- **Heading:** Right to counsel
- **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DC Code / Title 24 / Chapter 7 / § 24-704

## Text

(a) A patient shall have the right to the assistance of counsel at every stage of the judicial proceeding under §§ 24-701 to 24-711 , and the court shall assign counsel to represent him if the patient is unable to obtain counsel.
(b) The counsel for a patient may inspect the reports of the examination made pursuant to the authority contained in § 24-705 . No such report and no evidence resulting from such personal examination or evidence offered by the patient shall be admissible against him in any judicial proceeding except a proceeding under §§ 24-701 to 24-711 .
(c) The patient may, prior to the examination made pursuant to the provisions of § 24-705 or prior to the hearing provided for by § 24-707 , waive his rights to an examination, to counsel, or to such hearing, and voluntarily submit himself to commitment pursuant to the provisions of §§ 24-701 to 24-711 .

## Nearby sections

- [D.C. Code § 24-701 § 24-701. Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-701.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-702 § 24-702. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-702.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-703 § 24-703. Order of examination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-703.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-704 § 24-704. Right to counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-704.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-705 § 24-705. Examinations by physicians.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-705.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-706 § 24-706. When hearing is required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-706.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-707 § 24-707. Hearing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-707.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-708 § 24-708. Confinement of patient.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-708.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-709 § 24-709. Release of patient.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-709.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-710 § 24-710. Periodic examination of released patients.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-710.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-711 § 24-711. Patient not deemed a criminal.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-711.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-712 § 24-712. [Omitted].](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-712.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-713 § 24-713. Care and treatment of drug users; authority of Surgeon General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-713.md)
- [D.C. Code § 24-714 § 24-714. Admittance into Public Health Service hospitals; narcotics users from District.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-714.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T24_C7_S24-704. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.