New Jersey Statutes Title 30. Institutions and Agencies 30 § 4-27.12

a. A patient who is involuntarily committed to treatment and assigned to an outpatient treatment provider or involuntarily committed to treatment and admitted to a short-term care or psychiatric facility or special psychiatric hospital shall receive a court hearing with respect to the issue of continued need for involuntary commitment within 20 days from initial commitment unless the patient has been administratively discharged pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1987, c. 116 (C.30:4-27.17). However, if a person is involuntarily committed pursuant to subsection c. or d. of section 10 of P.L.1987, c. 116 (C.30:4-27.10), that person immediately shall be committed to the Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton or other facility designated for the criminally insane for the duration of the 20-day waiting period.

b. Except as provided in subsection c. of this section, the assigned county counsel is responsible for presenting the case for the patient's involuntary commitment to the court, unless the county adjuster is licensed to practice law in this State, in which case the county adjuster shall present the case for the patient's involuntary commitment to the court.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section and upon notice to the county adjuster:

d. A patient subject to involuntary commitment to treatment shall have counsel present at the hearing and shall not be permitted to appear at the hearing without counsel.