Ala. Code § 22-11A-26: Commitment Petition - Probate Judge May Take Sworn Testimony of Petitioner; Petition Without Merit to Be Dismissed.

When any petition is filed, seeking to commit any person to the custody of the Alabama Department of Public Health, the probate judge shall immediately review the petition and may require the petitioner to be sworn in and to answer, under oath, questions regarding the petition and the person sought to be committed. If it appears from the face of the petition or the testimony of the petitioner that the petition is totally without merit, the probate judge may order the petition dismissed without further proceedings.