KRS 202B.210: Right to counsel.

Upon the filing of a petition for involuntary admission pursuant to KRS 202B.045, the

court shall appoint an attorney to represent the respondent with the appointment and

representation to continue unless the respondent retains private counsel. The appoint ed

attorney shall be forthwith notified by the clerk of the allegations in the petition and the

date and purpose of the preliminary hearing. When it is necessary to appoint counsel, the

District Court shall endeavor to appoint private counsel, if available , to represent

respondents, from a list of attorneys who have volunteered to represent such respondents.

The list shall be maintained by the District Court clerk. Private counsel appointed by the

court shall be compensated in the manner set forth in KRS 620.100. If no other method of

appointing counsel for the respondent is available, the respondent shall be represented by

the public advocate pursuant to KRS Chapter 31.