|
In this section of the
website we have information about the activities and publications of
Spectrum Institute from 2014 through 2021. Information and links
to documents are listed in chronological order. December 8, 2021 Commonwealth Club Hosts a "Fee for All" Forum
The panelists in this forum explained how they witnessed or experienced this “fee for all” depleting the assets of a conservatee. The moderator discussed how the Funding and Fees Project of Spectrum Institute plans to address this problem through a study of what has been happening in local courts throughout the state. The project will issue a report and recommendations on how to tame this asset-eating beast. We are asking individuals, organizations and foundatons to make donations to fund this project. Once we hve raised $30,000, the study will be initiated. We anticipate that it will take 10 months to comlete the research, develop the reform proposals, and write the report. To make a donation, click here. Then send us an email to let us know that your donation is intended to support the Fee for All study.
November 12, 2021 Registration Still Open for Zealous Advocacy Webinar
Spectrum Institute is presenting a “Zealous Advocacy” webinar on the implications of newly-enacted AB 1194 on California public defenders and court-appointed private counsel in probate conservatorship proceedings. Information is also provided for the courts that appoint the attorneys and the counties that fund indigent legal defense services in these cases. Those who have registered so far include public defenders from several counties, judicial council staff, superior court staff, regional center staff, private practitioners, and conservatorship reform advocates. For information about the one-hour webinar which will occur on November 16 at noon, click here.
November 11, 2021 ABC TV 10 News Story Addresses Problems with Limited Conservatorships
November 10, 2021 ABC TV 10 News Story on New Legal Advocacy Rights Under AB 1194
November 6, 2021 Internship Opportunities Are Available for LGBTQ Legal History Project
November 4, 2021 New Research Associate Joins LGBTQ Outreach Campaign
Kelly has volunteered for several not-for-profit organizations, starting with the “No on 64” campaign in Orange County in 1986 to defeat a ballot initiative that would have caused massive intrusions into the civil liberties of persons with HIV or AIDS. It was an exciting time for him as a young college student who was just coming out. He also did volunteer work for the AIDS Walks in Los Angeles. Since moving to the Desert, Kelly has become a proud and involved union member with CSEA (California School Employee Association). He is also the organist at Arcadia Congregational Church in Arcadia, Caliornia. Kelly likes learning new skills and is always up for a new challenge. When he’s not working, Kelly enjoys watching motion pictures, listening to music, playing music, dancing, giving flattop haircuts, and hanging out with his close friends. November 3, 2021 Internship Summary for ADA Judicial Compliance Project
October 25, 2021 Judge Rand Schrader Pro Bono Program Video
UCLA Law School formally launched the Judge Rand Schrader Pro Bono Program today. The program is named in honor of Schrader, who along with Thomas F. Coleman and a few other law students created the first gay law students association in the nation in 1972. Rand went on to become the first openly gay deputy city attorney in Los Angeles in 1974 and the second openly gay judge in the nation in 1980. Retired Superior Court Judge Stephen Lachs spoke during the 8-minute video as did Coleman, the executive director of Spectrum Institute. Judge Lachs is an advisor to the Funding and Fees Review project of Spectrum Institute. Retired Judge Burt Pines, who was the elected city attorney who hired Rand, shared some of his memories of Rand. To watch the video, click here. (Photo: screen shot from the video)
October 19, 2021 In Memory of Theresa Jankowski
October 13, 2021 Zoom Webinar Specialist to Assist Spectrum Institute
October 12, 2021 New Member of Board of Trustees
October 7, 2021 Unpacked:
Podcast on the Origins and Unfolding of Britney Spears Conservatorship
October 2, 2021 Episode #1:
Historic Right to Counsel Bill Signed By California's Governor
October 1, 2021 Monthly Newsetter is Now Available
The October 2021 newsletter of Spectrum Institute is now available online. To access the current newsletter as well as prior issues, click here.
September 28, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON CONSERVATORSHIP REFORM
September 22, 2021 The Domino Effect: My Life As an Advocate -- An Autobiographical Narrative by Thomas F. Coleman
September 21, 2021 BuzzFeed News Releases Massive Report on Broken State Guardianship Systems
September 18, 2021 Coming Soon: AudioCast of Spectrum Institute
September 16, 2021 Civil Grand Juries Responding to Our Requests for Investigations of Legal Defense Services
September 14, 2021 Senate Committee on Aging Urged to Propose Bold Guardianship and Conservatorship Reforms
Publicity surrounding the conservatorship of Britney Spears has sparked
growing interest in such reform by many members of Congress. One of them
is Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) who is chairperson of the Special Committee
on Aging. A staff member of that committee recently contacted Spectrum
Institute. In response, we have submitted four specific actions that
Congress should take to tame the estate-grabbing and
civil-liberties-destroying conservatorship/guardianship beast. Those
actions are: Rick Black, executive director of the Center for Estate Administration Reform, also has been pressing the committee to take bold actions to address guardianship and conservatorship abuses perpetrated by state judges and probate attorneys. We are hoping that the interest expressed in conservatorship and guardianship reform by members of Congress, especially by Senator Casey, is not just for publicity purposes. Time will tell if the Committee proposes meaningful reforms or just offers up more symbolic legislation such as has occurred in the past.
September 13, 2021 Legal Director Quoted in News Story on Right-to-Counsel Provisions of AB 1194
For those who are unable to retain an attorney, the bill requires the court to appoint a lawyer for the adult, specifying that such appointed attorneys must act as zealous advocates for the expressed wishes of their clients. This will correct a current problem where some appointed attorneys do not advocate for what their clients wants. Instead, some act more like social workers, urging the court to do what the attorney personally feels is best for the client. The Southern California Record is a journal covering the legal system in Southern California. To read the article, click here.
September 10, 2021 California Conservatorship Reform Bill Sent to Governor
September 8, 2021 Commonwealth Club Conservatorship Reform Forum Available Via YouTube The Commonwealth Club of California sponsored a forum last week on conservatorship reform. Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, was one of the invited presenters. The organization released the video (1:09) today on its YouTube page. The video is embedded here for your convenience.
September 7, 2021 Landmark Report Finds Major Flaws in Conservatorship Legal Defense Programs
September 6, 2021 New Intern Joins the Team at Spectrum Institute
September 1, 2021 Episode #3 of The Freedom Files Podcast Now Available
September 1, 2021 New Monthly Newsletter Published Today
September 1, 2021 WSU Student Added to Team as Social Media & Podcast Production Intern
September 1, 2021 Gurdeep Singh Raina to Serve as Outside Strategic Consultant
August 25, 2021 Updated Compendium of Daily Journal Commentaries is Available
August 24, 2021 Daily Journal Publishes Op-ed on Deficient Attorney Training Program
July 27, 2021 Commonwealth Club to Sponsor Conservatorship Reform Panel on August 30
July 22, 2021 We Reached Our Fundraising Goal
July 20, 2021 Op-Ed: California Supreme Court Can Fix Conservatorship Lawyering Mess OP-ED: The Daily Journal published a commentary today pointing to California's top court as the best way to fix a mix of systemic problems that undermine the constitutional right of adults with disabilities to have effective legal representation in probate conservatorship proceedings. The supreme court has ultimate responsibility for ethical and professional standards for attorneys who practice law in California's probate courts. It also supervises the State Bar's complaint and discipline system. With such power comes responsibility. The commentary, written by attorney Thomas F. Coleman, urges the court to start the process of cleaning up an obvious mess off bad lawyering by convening a Workgroup on Conservatorship Right to Counsel Standards. The blue ribbon panel would investigate what appears to be a pattern and practice of deficient legal services for conservatees and proposed conservatees and make recommendations on what steps the court should take to ensure that vulnerable adults in these proceedings receive effective legal representation by a lawyer who is loyal and provides zealous advocacy. The Daily Journal is California premier legal newspaper, read by thousands of attorneys, judges, and public officials. To read the commentary, click here. REQUEST: Today, a formal request was received by the Supreme Court to create such a workgroup. It was submitted by Spectrum Institute and 10 other organizations representing a variety of interests and constituencies. PRESS RELEASE: For a press release about the request, click here. NEWSWIRE: To read the news release via Newswire, click here. For a report on the state and national media that published the story on their websites, click here. CEAR: The Center for Estate Administration Reform (CEAR) forwarded our press release to California Assemblyman Evan Low and Senator Ben Allen urging them to ensure passage of conservatorship reform legislation requiring attorneys to zealously advocate for the rights of conservatees and proposed conservatees. For a copy of the message, click here.
July 20, 2021 Long Beach Bar Association Supports Our Request to the Supreme Court
July 9, 2021 Day of Reckoning is Coming for Britney Spears Court-Appointed Attorney
July 7, 2021 Daily Journal Op-Ed: Spears Conservatorship Shows Need for Stronger Laws on Right to Counsel
Washington Examiner Quotes Spectrum Institute on Growing Public Awareness of Conservatorship Abuses The Washington Examiner ran a news story today about the growing political interest in conservatorship and guardianship abuses -- noting that politicans from both major paries are now focusing on the issue. Much of this is due to media attention generated by the Free Britney movement to the conservatorship of pop star Britney Spears. The story quoted Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute. "Conservatorship abuse is not a partisan issue. Like a contagious disease, it can strike the wealthy or the poor, liberals or conservatives, people of any race or religion,” Coleman told the Washington Examiner. “People know that if this can happen to someone as famous and powerful as Britney Spears, it could happen to them or their parents or grandparents.” To read the full article, click here.
June 30, 2021 We're Half Way to Our Fundraising Goal
June 29 2021
Go to the podcast website for more information. Or click here to go directly to Episode #1.
June 24 2021 Britney Spears Testimony Underscores the Need to Pass SB 724
To read the L.A. Times story, click here.
June 16, 2021 ADA Project Reaching Out to California's Superior Court Presiding Judges
June 15, 2021 Welcome Konstantine Anthony -- Our New Local Government Advisor
June 10, 2021 Legal Advisors to Assist Mental Health Project's Consequences Report
June 9, 2021 Encouraging Alameda Public Defender to Create a Model Program
June 9, 2021 Outreach to ADA Coordinators for California Superior Courts
June 3, 2021 Tweet Supporting Senator Ben Allen's Committment to Passing SB724
May 25, 2021 Dr. Ginny Focht-New Becomes Advisor to the Mental Health Project
May 20, 2021 Right to Counsel Bill Advances to Senate Floor in California
May 19, 2021 Nevada Attorneys Become Guardianship Advocacy Advisors Two attorneys from Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada have agreed to be guardianship advocacy advisors to Spectrum Institute. The Center operates a Guardianship Advocacy Program where a staff of 14 attorneys represent hundreds of clients in adult guardianship proceedings. A video interview with its executive director, Barbara Buckley, explains how the program operates -- with recruitment practices, training, performance standards, and quality assurance controls that make it a model program that should be replicated in states throughout the nation.
May 18, 2021 Loyola Law Student is Approved for Internship Program
May 17, 2021 California Judicial Council Admits Lacking Basic Conservatorship Data
May 13, 2021 Civil Rights Report Sent to California Governor
Spectrum Institute sent a report to California Governor Gavin Newsom today. Civil Rights Agencies MIA for Conservatees with Developmental Disabilities calls on the governor to investigate a void in civil rights advocacy that is adversely affecting tens of thousands of conservatees and proposed conservatees with developmental disabilities. For a copy of the report, click here. For a copy of the press release about the report, click here. To watch a 5-minute video announcement about the report and previous attempts to convince state civil rights enforcdment agencies to protect this vulnerable class of individuals, click here.
May 13, 2021 Spectrum Institute Opens Twitter Account
Our social media intern, Sarah Barlow, has opened an account for Spectrum Institute on Twitter. The account is located at: https://twitter.com/Spectrum_1987 Follow us @Spectrum_1987
May 13, 2021 Spectrum Institute Opens Instagram Account
Report Sent to the California Judicial Council
As I once asked in an op-ed published in the Daily Journal, titled We Count What We Care About, “How much does the judiciary care about the thousands of probate conservatees who are under its protection?” I am sorry to say that my answer was: “In a world of ‘counting equals caring’ the answer appears to be that these judicial protectors are not really concerned about their protectees.” Please prove me wrong. Start counting and sharing reliable conservatorship data with the public. This report documents the current data deficiency and suggests ways to fill this informational void. The likely passage of several legislative bills this year, with resulting increases in the judicial workload in conservatorships, requires better planning. The time to start that planning is now. To read the report,
click
here.
May 6, 2021 Limited Conservatorship Advisor Joins Team at Spectrum Institute
May 5, 2021 Op-Ed: Civil Rights Agenies are Missing in Action for California Conservatees
May 3, 2021 ADA Judicial Compliance Project is Being Initiated
May 1, 2021 Development Associate to Assist Spectrum Institute with Fundraising
May 1, 2021 Students Join Our Team as Summer Interns
May 1, 2021 May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
May 1, 2021 May Newsletter is Available
May 1, 2021 Internship Page Has Been Added to the Website
April 26, 2021 Video Blog: DOJ Investigation of Alameda County Has Conservatorship Implications
April 20, 2021 Op-Ed: California Supreme Court is Responsible for Complaint System Accessibility
April 19, 2021 California State Bar Complaint System is Not Accessible to Clients with Cognitive Disablities
April 16, 2021 Progress Report Sent to the Funding and Fees Review Team
April 13, 2021 Conservatorship Reform Presentation Encourages More Focus on Solutions
Attorney Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, made a 45-minute presentation yesterday at a National Guardianship Symposium. His presentation identified the many parts of California's probate conservatorship system that are broken -- offering specific reform proposals and identifying the officials and agencies to whom each one should be directed. The approach he suggested for California could be adapted to any of the other 49 states which have guardianship or conservatorship systems that are not functioning as they should be. Spectrum Institute can be commissioned to perform a problem/solution agency-specific plan for any state. Contact us if you are interested in discussing this for your state. To watch the video of Coleman's presentation, click here. Or you can copy and paste the following link in a new window. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHn7FR57y38&t=6940s
April 11-12, 2021 Day Two of National Guardianship Symposium Focuses on Solutions
April 10, 2021
Video Blog Invites Comments on the Consequences of Denying or
Delaying Therapy
April 7, 2021 Distinguished Legal Advocate Becomes Advisor to Mental Health Project
April 7, 2021
Spectrum Institute sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Calfornia Legislature in support of SB 724 which affirms and strengthens the right to counsel for conservatees and proposed conservatees. The letter provides reference materials and legal precedents that support each of the four major components of the right to counsel protections in the bill. For a copy of the letter, click here. For a letter of support from the National Coalition on the Civil Right to Counsel, click here. To read the Judiciary Committee Report which was filed today, click here. There is no known opposition to the bill. Update (May 3, 2021): The bill passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee on April 13 and unanimouslyut of the Appropriations Committee on May 3. To see the votes, click here.
April 6, 2021 SB 724 Strengthens the Right to Counsel
April 5, 2021 Washington Supreme Court Brief Filed Today
Spectrum Institute and Mental Health Advocacy Services filed a motion and memorandum today in the Washington Supreme Court in the case of Dorothy Helm O'Dell. Ms. Helm produced compelling evidence that she was financially exploited in a guardianship proceeding in Washington State and is asking the Supreme Court to review her case in order to secure justice for herself. The motion and memorandum filed today ask the court to recognize that this is not an isolated problem and to grant review in order to put into place protections that will reduce the risk that other vulnerable adults will be victimized in the future by professional fiduciaries. Many thanks to Washington attorney Cheryl Mitchell for being the attorney of record for the two organizations and to attorney Dan Young and his colleague Camille Minogue for their guidance. The Law Office of Dan Young represents Ms. Helm. For a copy of the amici curiae (friends-of-the-court) motion, click here. For a copy of the memorandum, click here. (Image by Top 10 website) Update (April 14): The Supreme Court accepted the brief for filing and will consider it when deciding to grant review. For a copy of the court's order, click here.
April 4, 2021 Video Blog Posted Today on Autism Awareness +
Spectrum E-News posted a video blog today titled Autism: from awareness to acceptance to appreciation. In the blog, attorney Thomas F. Coleman acknowledges that April has been designated by some organizations as Autism Awarness Month. One group has called for a redesigntion to Autism Acceptance Month. In the blog, Coleman takes it one step further -- to appreciation. He calls out four autistic individuals to whom he expressed his appreciation. With the help of family, friends, and supporters, these individuals fought back against an oppressive conservatorship system and in the process they advanced civil rights for all people with disabilities who are targeted by these proceedings. To watch the 3-minute video, click here.
April 2, 2021 Legal Newspaper Publishes Commentary on Grand Juries
April 2, 2021 Our April Newsletter is Available
The April 2021 newsletter of Spectrum Institute has just been released.
Please share it with your friends and colleagues. The newsletter
contains a variety of articles about our activities during the month of
March. For a pdf copy of the newsletter,
click here. If you would like to read it online,
click here.
April 1, 2021 New Advisor to Mental Health Project
March 29, 2021 Washington State Radio Station Focuses on Guardianship Abuse
Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, appeared today on The Morning News with Mike Davis. Mike interviewed Tom about the case of Dorothy Helm O'Dell. Tom explained how Dorothy fought back and refused to surrender to exploitative and abusive legal maneuvers which a judge in Yakima County allowed to happen and the Court of Appeal swept under the judicial rug. Dorothy's petition to the Washington Supreme Court is pending. To listen to the 5-minute radio segment, click here and then click on "open this page in a new window." Thanks to an excellent defense provided by attorney Dan Young, Dorothy escaped without being forced into a guardianship. However, her assets were entirely depleted by the fees charged by the professionals who tried to take control of her life. A petition for review is asking the Washington Supreme Court to place controls in the guardianship system that will prevent fees from being awarded when fiduciaries do not act in good faith. Such controls would benefit a variety of vulnerable adults, such as seniors with cognitive challenges, adults struggling with mental illnesses, and adults of all ages with developmental disabilities. For a press release about the case, click here. To read the essay titled Dorothy Won't Surrender, click here. Dorothy's case highlights the need for guardianship reform in Washington State. Perhaps Congress should include Washington in its agenda if it holds hearings into abusive guardianship practices by state courts that violate the federal civil rights of Americans. For a copy of a letter from Spectrum Institute and 14 other organizations calling for congressional hearings, click here.
March 24, 2021 Public Defender Conservatorship Training Uses Spectrum Institute Materials
March 22, 2021 News Story Explains Our Call for Congressional Hearings A story was published yesterday by Union Square Times focusing on the letter sent by Spectrum Institute and 13 other organizations to Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). The letter called for congressional hearings into abusive practices in conservatorship proceedings in California and guardianship proceedings in other states. Nadler is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee. To read the story, written by Juliette Fairley, click here.
March 21, 2021 An Essay for World Down Syndrome Day
March 17, 2021 Webinar Today for Long Beach Bar Association
Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, is a guest speaker at a webinar hosted today by the Long Beach Bar Association. Coleman's lecture identifies 11 specific problems with the probate conservatorship system in California along with a suggested solution for each one of them. Attorneys who attend the webinar may receive one hour of continuing education credit approved by the California State Bar. In addition to members of the local bar association, other lawyers attending the webinar include public defenders from 12 counties in California and staff attorneys from the California Legislature. For a copy of the pdf of Coleman's PowerPoint presentation, click here.
March 15, 2021 A Call for Hearings by California Assembly Committee
March 13, 2021 Civil Rights Rule Maker Updating California's ADA Regulations
March 13, 2021 California State Bar Trustees to Hear from Spectrum Institute
March 9, 2021 British Podcast Shines Light on Abusive Conservatorships in Calfornia
Defiance News has just released several episodes of a podcast focusing on the abusive conservatorship of entertainer Britney Spears and several other cases involving civil rights violations by the conservatorship system against adults whose ages range from 30 to 80. Part III of the series prominently features the advocacy activities of Spectrum Institute. For more information about the episode, click here. To listen to this segment (54-min), click here.
March 9, 2021 Organizations Call for Congressional Hearings into Rights Violations in State Conservatorship and Guardianship Proceedings
March 9, 2021 Records Requests Being Sent to All California Superior Courts
March 9, 2021 Professor Emeritus Becomes Advisor to Mental Health Project
March 6, 2021
Spectrum Institute Adds New Board Member
Sheri has contributed to her community
over the years as an entrepreneur in a mix of areas, ranging from real
estate lending to owning a caregiving franchise in both Napa and Redding
for nearly a decade. The primary focus of her caregiving business
was to advocate for the needs of seniors and those with different
abilities while at the same time promoting their ability to be as
independent as possible.
Sheri’s passion for advocating for
these often-marginalized members of society comes from her experience as
a single mother for 23 years as well as being someone who believes in
the value of the elderly and those with different abilities. While she
was the owner of two Comfort Keeper’s franchises, Sheri gained a greater
understanding that elderly and differently-abled individuals need strong
advocacy in addition to caregiving services. They also need help
navigating through the maze of social service systems in order to secure
the financial and other assistance for which they are eligible.
Sheri has recently been supporting the
advocacy goals of Spectrum Institute through her expertise as a Brand
and Marketing Strategist. She has honed successful techniques for using
social media platforms to educate the public on important issues, while
at the same time attracting people to participate as volunteers or
donors to help an organization more effectively advance its mission.
Sheri is sharing those techniques with the executive director and social
media coordinator of Spectrum Institute, coaching them as they implement
various strategies for growth and awareness of Spectrum Institute’s
purpose.
We are pleased to welcome Sheri
Kellogg to the board of trustees.
March 5, 2021
Mental Health Project Gains New Advisor
March 4, 2021 March Newsletter is Now Available
March 4, 2021
Video Blog on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March 3, 2021
California Bill is a Trojan Horse Diminishing the Right to Counsel
Under the bill, if a court-appointed attorney personally believes the
conservatee or proposed conservatee is unable to communicate, the bill
mandates that the attorney inform the court. The judge may
then determine the inability to communicate without an evidentiary
hearing, without even laying eyes on the litigant, and without the need
for an ADA assessment, and without the need for any expert evaluation.
If the judge determines the individual is unable to communicate –
whatever that means – the judge must remove advocacy counsel and
appoint a guardian ad litem. The GAL, of course, has no ethical
duties of confidentiality or loyalty to the client. The Daily Journal legal newspaper has published an op-ed by Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Insttitute, which explains some of the dangers of AB596.
Perhaps the author of the bill, Assemblymember Janet Nguyen, would
benefit by hearing from California disability rights advocates.
She introduced the bill at the request of the California Lawyers
Association – a trade group representing the interests of the lawfirms
who practice in probate court. The staff member assigned to the
bill is Emily Humpal.
emily.humpal@asm.ca.gov
Dear Legislative Director:
I want to bring to your attention two
problems with AB-596 – a Bill Pertaining to Appointed Counsel in
Probate Conservatorship Proceedings. The bill has two parts and both are
seriously are flawed. I would like to request that you also share this
email with the Assemblymember. Thank you.
March 1, 2021
Spectrum E-News Launches New Video Blog
February 27, 2021
Advisor Reviews and Offers Suggestions on Capacity Assessment Report
Tom,
Thanks for the opportunity to review this excellent report. My
general impression is that the report is so thorough in content, clearly
written, comprehensively supported, and specific enough in its
recommendations for action that elected officials ought to be able to
understand the points you are trying to convey. I’m sorry but not
surprised that no official response has been forthcoming yet; judging by
what I see on the nightly news, California has a plethora of problems
vying for attention.
In terms of prioritizing recommendations, obviously those not requiring
huge outlays of new dollars are most likely to be received positively.
In general, recommendations requesting educational activities are less
threatening than recommendations calling for actual change in
behavior/activity, such as establishing new governmental or private
bodies.
Thanks again for the opportunity to review and learn from your
impressive work on capacity assessment.
Best wishes,
Marshall
Marshall B. Kapp, J.D., M.P.H. (Colleges of Law & Medicine) was educated
at Johns Hopkins University (B.A.), George Washington University Law
School (J.D. with Honors), and Harvard University School of Public
Health (M.P.H.). Now a Professor Emeritus, he was the Founding Director
of the Florida State University Center for Innovative Collaboration in
Medicine and Law from 2010 through 2017, with faculty appointments as
Professor, Department of Geriatrics, FSU College of Medicine, and
Professor of Medicine and Law in the FSU College of Law. He also was a
Faculty Affiliate of the FSU Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy
and the FSU Institute for Successful Longevity. He currently is an
Adjunct Professor, Stetson University College of Law (teaching in the
Elder Law LLM program) and an Adjunct Professor at the FSU College of
Law (teaching in the Juris Masters program).
February 25, 2021 Legal Director to Offer Conservatorship Reform Strategies at National Forum
Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship is sponsoring a national Guardianship Symposium to be held online on April 11-12, 2021. Registration is required. During this two-day forum experts will interactively explore the growing threat of abusive guardianships and conservtorships and offer strategies for reform. The first day will identify problems with these "protective" systems. The second day will focus on solutions. Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, is scheduled to speak on day two. His presentation -- Shifting from Complaints to Solutions -- will identify specific areas of the California conservatorship system needing reform, offering concrete proposals to bring about needed reforms. From his presentation, attendees with learn: (1) how to divide the conservatorship (guardianship) system into discrete segments; (2) how to identify deficiencies in that segment pertaining to policies or practices; and (3) how to craft solutions for each segment and then pitch them to the appropriate official or agency with jurisdiction to implement each proposal. To register for the forum, click here. February 25, 2021 Supreme Court's Conservatorship Order Sends Message on Less Restrictive Alternatives
The California Supreme Court issued an order yesterday directing the reporter of decisions not to publish an opinion of the Court of Appeal in the Conservatorship of O.B. (Case. No. S266033). In an appeal from an order granting a conservatorship of a young autistic woman, the Court of Appeal had affirmed the order, issuing an opinion that it certified for publication. Such an order makes the opinion binding law throughout the state. The opinion gave short shrift to the statutory requirement that less restrictive alternatives must be considered and ruled out. That was of little concern to the appellate court. Spectrum Institute asked the Supreme Court to order the opinion depublished, arguing that the wording of the opinion could be interpreted by attorneys and judges that the matter of less restrictive alternatives was not that important. The Supreme Court granted the request. As a result, the appellate opinion may not be cited as precedent in the future. Such depublication orders are rare. The action of the Supreme Court to issue such an order here sends a signal to appellate justices and trial court judges not to treat the matter of less restrictive alternatives so lightly. For a copy of our request to the Supreme Court spelling out the arguments for depublication, click here. For a v-blog commentary about the significance of this Supreme court order, click here.
February 23, 2021 National Disability Rights Network Endorses the Civil Right to Mental Health Therapy
February 21, 2021 Conservatorship Bill Introduced to Protect Choice of Attorney
February 20, 2021 Distinguished Professor Becomes an Advisor to Our Projects
February 16, 2021 Facebook Outreach to Califonia Assemblywoman about AB 596 (Appointed Counsel)
Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, posted today on the Facebook page of California Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen, expressing concerns about AB 596 -- a bill she introduced dealing with appointed counsel in probate conservatorship cases. The wording of her bill creates a potential for mischief -- the possibility that seniors and other adults with cognitive disabilities may be deprived of counsel without due process of law. Coleman asked for an opportunity to speak with her staff about this. For a report showing the need for more comprehensive legislation to protect the right to counsel in these cases, click here.
February 11, 2021 Latest Edition of Monthly E-Newsletter is Released
February 10, 2021
Dr. Nirbhay N.
Singh Becomes an Advisor to the Mental Health Project
February 9, 2021 B is for Broken: Upcoming Conservatorship Webinar for Long Beach Bar Association
February 8, 2021 Spectrum Institute Solicits the Views of Experts on Judicial Ethics
February 7, 2021 Mental Health Project Sends Letter to Washington State Legislator
February 5, 2021 Website Designer Joins Team at Spectrum Institute
February 4, 2021 Loyola Law School Offering Students Internships with Spectrum Institute
February 3, 2021 Technology Consultant Joins the Team at Spectrum Institute
Alex Sansevieri has become a technology advisor to Spectrum Institute. Alex has been working as an IT advisor, troubleshooter, and technician for individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations for two decades. He has extensive knowledge in networking as well as a variety of technology solutions -- from onsite to the cloud. Alex is the owner of Sansevieri Technology Consulting. We are pleased that we will have the benefit of his advice and assistance as Spectrum Institute continues to develop and expand our programs and activities.
February 3, 2021 Pioneer of LEGOŽ Therapy Becomes Advisor to Mental Health Project
February 3, 2021 Oregon Health and Science University Professor to Advise Mental Health Project
February 3, 2021 Co-Authors of Physchological First Aid Book Become Advisors
January 31, 2021 Social Media
Advisor Providing Guidance on How to Attract More Support
January 31, 2021 List of Advisors to
the Mental Health Project Continues to Grow
January 30, 2021 Another New Advisor
for the Mental Health Project
January 29, 2021 Sharing Information
with BuzzFeed News About Conservatorships
January 28, 2021 Retired California
Judge Becomes an Advisor to the Attorney Fee Review Study
January 27, 2021 Mental Health
Project Gains an Advisor from the United Kingdom
January 24, 2021 New Social Media Coordinator for Spectrum Institute
January 23, 2021 William C. Gaventa, M. Div. is an Advisor to Our Mental Health Project
January 23, 2021 Matthew P. Janicki, Ph.D. is an Advisor to Our Mental Health Project
January 22, 2021 Mental Health Project Explains the Right to a Support Person as an ADA Accommodation
January 21, 2021 Research Associate Added to the Attorney Fee Review Team
January 20, 2021 New Administration Offers Hope for Vigorous Civil Rights Enforcement at DOJ
January 17, 2021 Register for Town Hall Zoom Forum on California Conservatorships on Feb. 1 -- Open to the Public -- Free
January 13, 2021 Our Staffing is Augmented by Three More College Interns
Three more college students have accepted internships with Spectrum Institute for the next few months. Tanner Coe, a third-year student at UCLA, will work with Tina Baldwin to develop the Mental Health Project. Tanner is a Regents Scholar who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in public affairs with a minor in disability studies. Emmi Deckard, also a junior at UCLA will work with Tom Coleman as an associate producer for The Freedom Files – a podcast cosponsored by Spectrum Institute. She will also write feature stories about podcast episodes and edit our monthly newsletter for Spectrum E-News – a new division of Spectrum Institute. Emmi writes for the Daily Bruin, the student newspaper at UCLA. She is pursuing a disability studies minor. Trinity Pierce, a junior at Washington State University, will serve a dual role as an associate producer for the podcast and a feature story writer for Spectrum E-News. Trinity is majoring in multimedia journalism as well as Japanese. She has experience working as a journalist with The Daily Evergreen, a student newspaper distributed at 200 campus locations and which has 70,000 online readers each month. These three students will join our intern Maia Gryskiewicz, a junior at Washington State University. Maia will record each podcast episode and do post-production video and audio editing to make the video and audio products ready for distribution. We are grateful for the assistance of Angela Schweigert, a staff member at Washington State University, for helping us secure the two interns from that educational institution. We also appreciate the help and support we received from Pia Palomo and Cyndi Tando, staff memers at UCLA, for facilitating the two internships from that camus.
January 11, 2021 Presention to Washington State Certified Professional Guardian Board
January 9, 2021 Commonwealth Club CEO Gloria Duffy Joins the Attorney Fee Review Team
January 6, 2021 Alameda County Public Defender is Added to the Attorney Fee Review Team
January 5, 2021 Welcome to Our New Podcast Intern
January 5, 2021 Acclaimed Videographer Becomes an Advisor to Our New Podcast
January 5, 2021 New Endorsement of
Civil Right to Mental Health Therapy Statement of Principles
January 3, 2021 Inquiry Sent Today to UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program
January 2, 2021 Inquiry Sent Today to Public Defenders in California
January 2, 2021 Welcome to Our New Board Member
January 1, 2021 Judicial Council Asked to Authorize Probate Conservatorship Jury Instructions
|
ABC
TV 10 in Sacramento aired a news story today introducing its viewers
with a special type of conservatorship for adults with developmental
disabilities. Throughout the news segment Barbara Imle discusses
problems with the limited conservatorship system and the need for
regulation and coordination of the 21 regional centers in California
which are supposed to assess proposed limited conservatees to ensure
that they are not unnecessarily placed into a conservatorship and, if
one is necessary, that it is not overly intrusive. Barbara is a member
of the board of trustees of Spectrum Institute. To watch the news
story,
Spectrum
Institute has internship opportunities available for law students as
well as undergraduate students majoring in history or journalism.
Students will work under the supervision of three attorneys on a project
to commemorate LGBTQ legal trailblazers from the 1970s. Trailblazers
include law students, law professors and practicing attorneys who were
involved in LGBTQ legal activism during that decade. The internship
announcement has been posted at 21 universities. For more information
about the internships with the
Kelly
B. Blair has become a volunteer for Spectrum Institute. He will serve as
a research associate with the organization’s
We
were saddened to learn of the passing of Theresa Jankowski yesterday.
The news was relayed to us by Sharon Holmes, an advisor to Spectrum
Institute and a close friend of Theresa. Theresa’s quiet and peaceful
life was disrupted in 2017 by an unwanted and necessary conservatorship
proceeding in the Los Angeles Superior Court. A retired employee of the
FBI, Theresa was residing in an independent living residence when she
was targeted by a conservatorship petition filed by a professional
fiduciary. Having outlived her relatives, Theresa turned to an estate
planning attorney to prepare a trust and powers of attorney. Theresa,
then 83 years-old, had about $600,000 in liquid assets and an annuity
and FBI retirement account that paid for her living expenses. Theresa
appeared in court with her chosen attorney only to discover that the
judge would not allow him to represent her. Instead, the court appointed
another attorney who then refused to advocate for Theresa’s wishes which
were to dismiss the petition and allow her trust and powers of attorney
to take effect. Her appointed attorney argued IN FAVOR OF a
conservatorship, and in being disloyal to his client also violated
ethical rules of confidentiality. Some four years later, Theresa was
pressured into a “settlement” where the conservatorship case would be
dismissed on condition that she pay the fees of all the attorneys in the
case which amounted to about $350,000. The judge would then allow
the trust to take effect. In essence, Theresa was held hostage to a
conservatorship with the ransom being the attorney fees. This four-year
ordeal took a toll on Theresa and the stress of it no doubt contributed
to her demise. Theresa’s battle with the probate court and her
mistreatment by the court-appointed attorney will be used as a teaching
example of conservatorship abuse in California. In fact, her case
was used to support two provisions in the newly passed AB 1194.
One is a legislative declaration that a proposed conservatee has the
right to chosen counsel. The other is a provision mandating that
counsel for a conservatee or proposed conservatee act as a zealous
advocate for the client. Both of these principles were violated in
Theresa's case. The attorney fee abuse Theresa experienced will be
discussed at an upcoming "Fee for All" forum sponsored by the
Commonwealth Club of California. Theresa's unfortunate
experiences are inspiring legal reforms. May she rest in peace.
Clara
Garcia has offered to assist with the technical aspects of our first
Zoom webinar which will be held on November 16. Thomas F. Coleman,
legal director of Spectrum Institute will be the presenter. He
will explain the duties and risks associated with AB 1194 -- a new
conservatorship reform law that takes effect on January 1, 2022.
Lawyers, county risk managers, court administrators, and members of the
public may register for this event. We are grateful to have the
assistance of Clara for this important event.
Our
appreciation is extended to the Autism Society Inland Empire which will
be hosting this webinar on Zoom. The organization promotes
systemic reforms by working at the local, state and federal levels in
collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. It
provides expertise, leadership, and support around critical issues such
as autism assessment, autism services, education issues, employment,
housing and more. All of these issues are related to conservatorship
reform.
Barbara
Imle has joined the board of trustees of Spectrum Institute. She
fills a vacancy due to the retirement of Diane Coleman Rogers.
Barbara is a doctoral candidate in the sociology department at Portland
State University. Her current research is focused on improving the
process of establishing limited conservatorships of adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities in California. Emphasis is
placed on finding alternatives, such as supported decision-making
arrangements. Barbara, who has disabilities herself, has some 15
years of professional experience working in the disability service
delivery system in California. She was employed by two regional
centers. This combination of experiences has provided her with a solid
understanding of the complexities related to navigating the disability
system, and the challenges that people with disabilities and service
agencies face. Barbara has collabo
Unpacked
is a new investigative podcast that "delves into the world's most
curious and complex stories." In this season's first episode,
investigative reporter and podcast host Edwina Stott unpacks the story
of Britney Spears by talking to the people who were there to examine how
the media, her family and the general public have played a part in
Britney being forced into a conservatorship and therefore losing control
of her career, her money and her life. Legal aspects of the
conservatorship are explained by attorney Lisa McCarley who practices
law in probate court and attorney Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of
Spectrum Institute. For a written description of the podcast
episode and to listen to the audio file (27 min.),
New
TV Series on California's Broken Conservatorship System
Each
episode of The Freedom Files Podcast has a feature story
associated with it. An early episode focused on the advocacy
activities of Spectrum Institute's legal director before he was
introduced to the civil rights nightmares of probate conservatorships.
From gay rights to family diversity to singles rights to abuse of
teenagers, Coleman's career has focused on equal rights and justice for
many oppressed or underserved segments of the population. To read
the story about the advocacy adventures of Thomas F. Coleman from his
law school days in 1972 up to the publication of his professional
memoirs in 2009,
BuzzFeed
News has just published the results of a major investigation into state
guardianship and conservatorship systems throughout the nation.
According to the report, journalists Heidi Blake, Katie J.M. Baker and
their team "scoured hundreds of thousands of court documents,
obtained confidential mental health filings and financial records,
examined hundreds of guardianship cases, gathered exclusive data from
extensive public records requests, conducted hundreds of interviews, and
carried out a detailed review of guardianship laws in all 50 states.
[The] investigation reveals an opaque, overgrown, and malfunctioning
system wielding vast and frightening power in the dark." The
bottom line: "For people under guardianship, the system can be
dehumanizing, dangerous, and even deadly. For the professionals — who
can control hundreds of people at a time — it can be very profitable."
To read what they did and what they found during this impressive piece
of invetigative reporting,
Spectrum
E-News, the editorial and news division of Spectrum Institute, is
developing a new information service. AudioCast periodically will
release short audio segments focused on news and current events
pertaining to conservatorship reform, disability rights, and mental
health access. AudioCast, which shoud be operational by October 1, is
being produced by Thomas F. Coleman. Francis Cast, assistant
producer, is an intern from Western Washington University where he is
studying creative writing. Audiocast releases will be available on
the Spectrum E-News page of our website. Each episode will also be
released to the public through our social media accounts by Eneya
Kwesele, an intern from Washington State University.
The
Southern California Record published a story today about provisions of a
bill passed by the California Legislature to ensure that all adults
targeted by conservatorship proceedings will have an attorney to defend
their rights. Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum
Institute, is quoted extensively in the story. AB 1194 was sent to
the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom on September 10, 2021, and is awaiting
his approval. Once signed, it will take effect on January 1, 2021.
AB
1194 protects the right to a chosen attorney, mandates the appointment
of defense attorneys for those without counsel, requires appointed
attorneys to act as a “zealous advocate” for the client, and guarantees
that conservatees receive an appointed attorney in appellate
proceedings. The bill received overwhelming support in both houses
of the legislature. It now awaits the governor's signature.
Spectrum Institute assisted Senate Ben Allen (photo), primary co-sponsor
of the bill, to develop the measure's right-to-counsel provisions.
These new legislative mandates will help thousands of seniors and people
with disabilities who become entangled in probate conservatorship
proceedings. To read our press release about the new bill,
A
landmark 
Francis
Cast 
This
episode of the podcast series picks up where the second episode left
off. It describes the shift in the advocacy activities of Tom
Coleman after his memoirs were published in 2009. He ventured into
the area of abuse of people with disabilities, especially those with
developmental disabilities, with the goal of promoting more effective
responses to such abuse by government agencies. While doing that
important work, Coleman was introduced to an extremely challenging set
of problems with the probate conservatorship system in California.
After investigating a few specific cases of young adults with
developmental disabilities whose rights were violated in these legal
proceedings, Coleman dug deeper. To access this and previous
episodes, 
Eneya
Kwesele is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Washington State
University. She will receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in May
2022 in Integrated Strategic Communications with a focus on public
relations. Eneya joins the team at Spectrum Institute to
manage our social media outreach program and as a post-production
associate with The Freedom Files podcast. As a first-generation college student and a black woman, Eneya recognizes the
importance of advocacy for underrepresented and marginalized populations.
She joined varsity FIRST Robotics in high school and helped pioneer
Special Olympics Unified Robotics -- a robotics program for students
with disabilities. Working in student government, Eneya also has
experience advocating for college students and has served on several
campus-wide committees.
Over
the past six years, the Daily Journal has published 33 commentaries
written by attorney Thomas F. Coleman. The articles have focused
on various aspects of conservatorship reform and disability rights.
In a critical but constructive manner, Coleman has made recommendations
to improve access to justice for adults with mental and developmental
disabilities in judicial proceedings, with a special emphasis on probate
conservatorship proceedings. The recommendations have been
directed to officials in all branches and all levels of
government,including the California Supreme Court, State Bar, Judicial
Council, Legislature, and the United States Department of Justice.
The Daily Journal is California's premier legal newspaper. It is read by
thousands of attorneys, judges, legislators, government administrators,
and local elected officials. To access the compendium,
The
Daily Journal legal newspaper published a commentary today critiquing a
webinar recently produced by the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
The mandatory training was attended by court-appointed attorneys who
represent adults with developmental disabilities in limited
conservatorship proceedings in California.
On
August 30, 2021, The Commonwealth Club of California will host an
Internet forum focusing on the need for conservatorship reform. The
90-minute program will start at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) and costs $5.00 for
nonmembers. 
Many
thanks to Erin Peterson, executive director of the Long Beach Bar
Association, for facilitating the association's endorsement of the
request we filed today with the California Supreme Court. It asks
the court to convene a Workgroup on Converatorship Right to Counsel
Standards. Erin has been very helpful in the past in
arranging for webinars for members of the association on a variety of
problems and solutions associated with probate conservatorship
proceedings in California. The members of the Long Beach Bar Association
include over 400 attorneys, judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court,
justices of the California Appellate Court, and other legal
professionals from throughout the greater Long Beach area, including
many cities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The mission of the Long
Beach Bar Association is to serve the members of the Association,
lawyers, the judiciary, and the general public by: improving the skills
of and providing educational opportunities for lawyers; Creating
opportunities for professional collegiality and interaction with the
judiciary; and providing assistance and education to the public as they
seek to access the legal system.
The
Southern California Record published a news story today quoting
extensively from an interview with Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of
Spectrum Institute, about the consequences that may occur to the
court-appointed attorney for Britney Spears. If what Spears
says is true -- and there is no good reason to doubt her -- she
was betrayed by attorney Sam Ingham III in a variety of ways. At
the beginning of the case he argued against her right to have an
attorney of her choice. Throughout the case she says she was
abused and exploited by her conservators and yet it appears the attorney
never brought this issues to the attention of the court. Rather
than filing a petition to terminate her conservatorship as she wants, he
instead asked to resign. If the court finds that some or all of
these matters are true, the judge could order him to repay millions of
dollars in legal fees that he received out of her assets. He could
also be referred to the State Bar for investigation and discipline.
To read the story,
The
Daily Journal published a commentary today written by Thomas F.
Coleman, executive director of Spectrum Institute. The article explains
how current laws that supposedly protect the right to counsel of choice
in a conservatorship proceeding were repeatedly ignored by judges and
attorneys involved in the case of Britney Spears. Coleman argues that
the California Legislature needs to reaffirm the right to counsel of
choice, and specify that every conservatee or proposed conservatee is
entitled to be represented by a lawyer who advocates for the client’s
expressed wishes and defends their constitutional and statutory rights.
The attorney's loyalties should be to the client, not to the court.
Statements Britney made at the most recent court hearing show that her
court-appointed attorney failed her miserably. The op-ed suggests
actions that could be taken by the judge in Britney's case to remedy her
lawyer's apparent ethical violations and his failure to adhere to the
Rules of Professional Conduct. To read the article,
Less
than a week ago, Spectrum Institute launched a fundraiing campaign to
generate sufficient donations to cover the organization's annual
operating expenses of $5,000. The first phase of the campaign was an
email sent by the Chairperson and Executive Director to their friends
and associates as well as the closest supporters of Spectrum Intitute.
We are pleased to anounce that in the last few days we have raised
$2,600. One generous supprorter had his family foundation
contribute $1,000. An advisor to our Funding and Fees Review
Project donated $500. Other contributions ranged from $50 to $200.
The next step to attract donations is a request in the organization's
The
ADA Judicial Compliance Project has been working its way through various
Konstantine
Anthony has accepted our invitation to be a local government advisor to
Spectrum Institute. He is a member of the Burbank City Council and
serves as a member of the Burbank Advisory Council on Disabilities.
Konstantine says that his advocacy for disability rights stems from his
autism diagnosis and witnessing the discrimination his fellow disabled
Americans experience every day. He is currently a candidate for the
position of chair of the Disabilities Caucus of the California
Democratic Party. Konstantine lists conservatorship reform as one of his
political priorities. He studied film at San Francisco State University
with a diverse group of students from all over the world. In 2004, he
moved to Burbank, where he became a union actor in film and television.
Konstantine spends as much time with his 9 year-old son as possible.
For the last few years, Konstantine has regularly attended Burbank PFLAG
meetings to support and learn from the LGBTQIA+ community. He believes
that California must abolish the subminimum wage, end conservatorship
abuse, and invest in accessible infrastructure for every city and town.
Konstantine recently tweeted: “One of the most heartbreaking facts in
California's conservatorship process is the inability of the conservatee
to retain their own legal counsel.” He notes that: “A newly proposed law
from Senator Ben Allen (SB 724) seeks to change that.” We look forward
to having his help and advice as we advocate for conservatorship reform
and seek to protect and advance disability rights.
Two
interns are working on a
Dan
Young has been practicing law since 1978. He is the owner of Law Offices
of Dan R Young, a two-person general practice firm engaged primarily in
civil litigation in Seattle, Washington. The firm is committed to
helping people who are oppressed or exploited by those in positions of
power. He graduated from Stanford University and received a J.D. from
the University of California at Berkeley.
Camille
Minogue is a lawyer in the State of Washington. After a 25-career year
as an actuary, Camille undertook legal studies and became a lawyer in
2020. She has worked in the Law Offices of Dan R. Young since 2015
fighting for truth and justice alongside Dan. Camille also holds a Ph.D.
in Mathematics from Washington State University and is a
fourth-generation Washingtonian.
Spectrum
Institute met with the Alameda County Public Defender and his staff
yesterday.
Ginny
Focht
SB724
by Senator Ben Allen would improve the right to counsel in probate
conservatorship proceedings by: guaranteeing the right to counsel of
choice; mandating the appointment of counsel for conservatees and
proposed conservatees in the superior court and on appeal; and require
counsel to act as a zealous advocate for the conservatees or proposed
conservatee consistent with the Business and Professions Code and the
Rules of Professional Conduct. This is a major improvement over
existing law because superior court judges sometimes refuse to allow
litigants in these cases to have the attorney of their choice, superior
courts and appellate courts have not been appointing counsel at all in
some cases, and appointed attorneys often fail to advocate for the
client's stated wishes or defend their rights as a zealous advocate
would do. The bill has bipartisan support. It passed the
Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday on a vote of 7-0 and now
proceeds to a floor vote. Spectrum Institute was instrumental in
the development of SB724 and has been promoting these reforms for
several years.
Jim
Berchtold managed the Center's Civil Law Self-Help Program from 2009 to
2017 when he took charge of the Guardianship Advocacy Program. He now
heads up the Center's Consumer Rights Project which, among other things,
protects seniors and adults with disabilities from unnecessary
guardianship and financial exploitation. Jim graduated magna cum laude
from the University of Utah in 1992 and from the University of Utah
College of Law in 1996, where he was a William H. Leary Scholarand
served on the Board of Editors of the Utah Law Review.
Loyola
Law School in Los Angeles has given approval for Kendall James to be an
intern with Spectrum Institute. Kendall joins two other Loyola law
students and one undergraduate student from Washington State University
as summer interns.
Spectrum
Institute sent an administrative records request to the Judicial Council
on April 27, 2021. It asked for records showing the number new
probate conservatorship petitions filed in the superior courts
throughout the state in 2019 and 2020. It also asked for records
showing the number of conservatees with active cases during those years.
The Council responded on May 14 indicating that it had only partial data
on new filings and that it had no records showing the number of
conservatees with active cases. As a result of this new
information, Spectrum Institute has written to the Judicial Council and
the Chief Justice urging them to fix this void in data collection and
reporting. The letter concludes with this observation:
"Administrative leadership of the judicial branch cannot provide
responsible oversight, engage in proper budgetary planning, or make
improvements in the administration of justice in conservatorships
without such basic data." For a copy of these materials,
Our
social media intern, Sarah Barlow, has opened an account for Spectrum
Institute on Instagram. It is located at:
Spectrum
Institute submitted a report today to the Judicial Council of
California. We received notification on May 11 that the report was
distributed to all members of the Judicial Council. The report documents
the need for the council to make an effort to collect and report data
from the superior courts on probate conservatorship proceedings.
The current collection and reporting process is woefully inadequate.
We
are pleased to announce that Barbara Imle has accepted our invitation to
be a Limited Conservatorship Advisor to our organization. Limited
conservatorships are protective proceedings for adults in California who
have developmental disabilities. Barbara will work with the legal
director to develop a DDS Conservatorship Oversight Project.
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which oversees and funds
21 regional centers located throughout the state, should be
providing guidance to and monitoring the activities of regional centers
in connection with their role in establishing limited conservatorships.
Barbara is a doctoral candidate in the sociology department at Portland
State University, OR. Her current research is focused on the process of
establishing limited conservatorships of adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities in California. 
The
Daily Journal published a commenary today titled "Civil Rights Agencies
in California are MIA for Conservatees." The commentary was
written by Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute.
It discusses how the state's Department of Justice, Department of Fair
Employment and Housing, and Department of Developmental Disabilities --
all of which have civil rights enforcement powers -- are failing to
protect people with diabilities whose rights are routinely violated by
judges and court-appointed attorneys in probate conservatorship
proceedings. The paper is read by 7,000 attorneys, judges,
legislators, and lobbyists in California. For a copy of the commentary,
We
are pleased to announce that Jessilyn Matthias has volunteered to serve
as a Development Associate for Spectrum Institute. Jessilyn
Ben
Dishchyan: After earning a B.B.A. in finance from Loyola
Marymount University, Ben Dishchyan made the decision to attend law
school. He currently is a first-year law student graduating in May 2023
from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. Prior to attending
law school, Ben worked in the elder care industry, placing elders in
affordable board and care facilities that met thier medical and personal
demands. Being a licensed insurance broker, he also has knowledge in the
sales and consulting of the insurance market. After law school, Ben’s
goal is to serve the public need and be a successful public interest
attorney. At Spectrum Institute he will use his work experience and
knowledge to provide legal research and advocacy to further the mission
of the organization. Ben's primary assignment will be assisting
with the Funding and Fees Review Project.
Maria
de los Angeles Reyes Olmedo: A legal summer intern, is a
second-year law student attending Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Maria was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and they are a non-binary Mexican
immigrant and first-generation higher education student. Maria attended
Cal Poly Pomona for their undergraduate studies, majoring in Gender,
Ethnic, and Multicultural Studies, with a focus on Latinx/Chicanx
Studies, and minoring in Spanish. They enjoy conducting research and
writing, and presented their original research titled “Existimos
porque resistimos: Lyrics of Revolution and Resistance in Latin
America” at the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Scholars
Conference in 2017. Growing up as an undocumented immigrant exposed
Maria to the difficulties experienced by those who live in underserved
communities and form part of disenfranchised groups. Maroa is passionate
about becoming an active advocate for underserved people and will pursue
a policy and advocacy-oriented public interest career post-graduation.
Maria's primary assignment will be assisting with the ADA Judicial
Compliance Project.
Sarah
Barlow is a student at Washington State University Everett.
She will receive her bachelor's degree in Integrated Strategic
Communication in August 2021. Sarah has loved storytelling since
she was 12 years old. Over the years, Sarah has acquired a variety
of skills including public speaking, public relations, marketing, and
journalism. Every day she works to refine and enhance these skills
further. Sarah will work as a social media manager for Spectrum
Institute, managing and editing our accounts with Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, LinkedIn, Get Response, Google, and YouTube. She will
also be an assistant producer with The Freedom Files podcast.
When she is not working on her storytelling skills, Sarah is out
traveling and enjoying time with her friends. 
This
video blog from Spectrum E-News discusses a recent press release from
the United States Department of Justice about its investigation of ADA
violations by Alameda County against adults with mental illnesses. The
investigation has implications for the way in which state and local
agencies are processing probate conservatorship cases. Perhaps the DOJ
will open a new investigation into the failure of these officials and
government employees to seriously search for less restrictive
alternatives for conservatorships for seniors with cognitive challenges
and adults of all ages with developmental disabilities. The DOJ
investigation has conservatorship implications for the entire state of
California. To watch the 4 minute video,
Today
the Daily Journal legal newspaper published a commentary by Thomas
F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute. The article calls
attention to a major problem with the complaint and discipline system of
the State Bar of California: It is not accessible to people with
cognitive disabilities. This is especially true for seniors
experiencing cognitive decline or adults of all ages with developmental
disabilities who often find themselves ensnared in probate
conservatorship proceedings in which their assets or basic liberties are
in jeopardy. Because of the nature of their disabilities, these
involuntary litigants would not know when their attorneys are cutting
corners, willfully providing deficient legal services, or violating
professional ethics. As a result, they are in no position to file
complaints against such attorneys with the State Bar. The
commentary suggests ways in which the State Bar, which is an arm of the
Supreme Court, can modify the complaint system to make its benefits
available, even if only indirectly, to this class of vulnerable
individuals. To read the commentary,
Spectrum
Institute has sent a report to the California Supreme Court and the
State Bar of California to alert both entities that the State Bar's
complaint and discipline system for attorneys is not accessible to
litigants with cognitive disabilities in probate conservatorship
proceedings. Because such litigants lack the ability to identify
deficient legal services or to complain about them, the public entities
responsible for the complaint system to investigate and discipline bad
attorneys must make modifications to the policies and procedures of that
system to make its benefits available, directly or indirectly, to the
disabled clients of such attorneys. To read the report, which was
sent today to the Supreme Court and State Bar, and which will be the
focus of comments at the meeting of the State Bar Board of Trustees on
Friday, April 23, 2021, 
Spectrum
Institute announced the formation of an Attorney Fee Review Team on
December 28, 2020. The review was intended to focus on two types of
attorney fees in probate conservatorship cases. One is attorney
fees paid from the assets of conservatees to a wide range of attorneys
involved in these cases. The other is fees paid from county funds
for legal services provided to indigent conservatees. The study is
being donducted by the legal director of Spectrum Institute with the
help of a research associate. A law student intern will join the
research project in May. Reports and recommendations will be
reviewed by a diverse team of advisors. The study has been renamed
as the Funding and Fees Review Project. Today the legal
director sent a progress report to the advisors about the preliminary
research that has been done to date. The report informs the advisors of
the direction the study is headed. To read the report,
Attorney
Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute, will present on
day two of AAAPG's National Symposium on guardianship reform. The
zoom forum is sponsored by Americans Against Abusive Probate
Guardianships. On the first day of the symposium (April 11) a
variety of speakers share stories of how they or their families were
victimized by abusive guardianship proceedings. The second day
includes presenters offering suggestions on how to tame the guardianship
beast. Coleman's presentation, which occurs at 11:15 am
(EDT) on April 12 is titled Conservatorship Reform: Shifting
the Focus from Complaints to Solutions. He explains
how various local, state, and federal officials and agencies have
jurisdiction to improve one or more parts of the complex conservatorship
system in California. The key to reform is crafting a specific
reform proposal and pitching it to an official or agency with authority
to deliver. Presenting a good proposal to the wrong official or
agency wastes valuable time and resources. The examples that Coleman
provides for California can be adpted to guardianship reform efforts in
other states. To view his PowerPoint presentation,
After
representing children and families in the Los Angeles child welfare
system as well as treating patients, Meriam Bendat, J.D., Ph.D., founded
Psych-Appeal -- the nation's first private mental health law firm in
2011. Since then, Dr. Bendat has helped patients and
providers successfully challenge the denials of mental health treatment
through administrative appeals and impact litigation, recovering
millions of dollars in wrongfully-withheld benefits. 
When
California State Senator Ben Allen (photo) first introduced Senate Bill
724 on February 18, 2021, it was a modest proposal. At that stage,
the bill specified that if a conservatee or proposed conservatee
expresses any preference for a particular attorney to represent them,
the court shall allow it even if the attorney is not on the court's list
of approved attorneys. While the bill may have been inspired by a
judge's refusal to allow Britney Spears to have her attorney of choice,
others have experienced the same denial of counsel, such as 84 year-old
Theresa Jankowski in Los Angeles or 24 year-old Elizabeth H. in Solano.
The bill was a modest way of protecting the right to counsel. Now,
however, Senator Allen has amended the bill to provide additional
protections. Courts in Sacramento and elsewhere will no longer be
able to deprive proposed conservatees of the right to counsel
altogether. If they don't have an attorney of choice, the court
must appoint one to represent them. Further, any
ambiguity in the role of counsel will be removed. The amended bill
says that such attorneys shall act as a zealous advocate for
the client. No more acting as a "best interests" attorney or
de-facto investigtor for the court. Finally, the bill will require
appellate courts to appoint counsel for conservatees whose cases come
before them in appeals or writ proceedings. No more situtions
where a conservatee like Catherine Dubro was treated as though she did
not exist, even though she was a respondent in an appellate proceeding
where tens of thousands of dollars of her assets were at stake.
While the amended bill does not contain all of the elements that
Spectrum Intitute would have liked -- such as authorizing the Judicial
Council to develop performance standards for appointed attorneys in
conservatorship proceedings, it is a major advancement for the right to
counsel in California. For that Senator Allen should be commended.
For a copy of the amended bill, which comes up for a hearing in the
Senate Judiciary Committee on April 13,
The
Daily Journal legal newspaper published a commentary today about how
civil grand juries can become a new method to promote probate
conservatorship reform. Although conservatorship proceedings occur
in state court, many of the functions pertaining to conservatorships or
less restrictive alternatives are functions of county government.
Grand juries have the authority to investigate inefficiencies or
dysfunctional aspects of county government operations. The
commentary suggests that a top investigative priority for grand juries
should be the manner in which county governments fund the legal services
provided to indigents who become targets of conservatorship petitions.
For a copy of the commentary, 
Attorney
Jenny Farrell has accepted our invitation to be an advisor to the Mental
Health Project of Spectrum Institute. Having an attorney with
experience in mental health law will be of great value to the project.
Ms. F
The
California Public Defenders Association is conducting a webinar today
and tomorrow to train attorneys on how to effectively represent clients
who have been targeted by probate conservatorship petitions. The
lead presenter on day one is Susan Sindelar, a deputy public defender in
Santa Barbara County. Written materials accompanying her presentation
include two publications released by Spectrum Institute. One is
our 2020
Spectrum
Institute sent a letter today to Assemblymember Mark Stone (photo)
reminding him that the problems with the conservatorship system we
brought to his attention four years ago still persist. Now, as
then, we call on him as chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee to
conduct oversight hearings to identify systemic problems and develop
solutions. Our letter informed him that we recently wrote to the
chair of the House Judiciary Committee of the United States Congress
calling for hearings into the ongoing violations of the federal civil
rights of seniors and people with disabilities that are being
perpetrated by California's conservatorship system. How much more
appropriate it would be for hearings to be conducted in Sacramento
rather than Washington D.C. For a copy of our letter to Chairman
Stone, 
The
Fair Employment and Housing Council will meet on March 19, 2021 at 1:00
p.m. The meeting is open to the public and accessible online.
The Council is charged by law to adopt regulations to interpret and
implement state statutes prohibiting discrimination. Among those
statutes is Government Code Section 11135 which prohibits disability
discrimination by state agencies and by programs funded by the state.
This statute applies to superior court proceedings, including probate
conservatorship proceedings. For more than one year, Spectrum
Institute has been in communication with the Council about the
importance of adopting specific relations that make it clear to judges
and appointed attorneys that they have duties to protect the right of
conservatees and proposed conservatees to effective communication and
meaningful participation in these proceedings. This may require
judges modifying court policies or attorneys to provide disability
accommodations to clients with cognnitive disabilities. To read an
email sent to the Council on this matter, 
Thomas
F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum Institute will speak at a meeting
of the Calfornia State Bar Board of Trustees on March 19. Coleman
will urge the Bar to devote time and resources to address the problem of
deficient legal services being provided to low- and moderate-income
Californians who become entangled, involuntarily, into probate
conservatorship proceedings. In addition to initiating pro-active
measures to address this problem – which the State Bar has not yet done
– Coleman will suggest that the State Bar should support bills that
protect the right to counsel and oppose those that diminish this right
by undermining access to a competent attorney who provides zealous
advocacy adhering to ethical rules of loyalty and confidentiality.
Several
advocacy organizations have joined a letter sent today from Spectrum
Institute to United States Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY). Nadler
(photo) is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The letter urges
the committee to hold hearings on violations of civil rights that
routinely occur in guardianship and conservatorships proceedings in
state courts throughout the nation. It encourages the committee to
draft legislation that will strengthen the role of the federal
government in protecting the constitutional right of due process and
federal civil rights of Americans who are drawn into these proceedings.
Joining our letter is: Harvard Law School Project on Disability
(Massachusetts); TASH (Washington, DC); Americans Against Abusive
Probate Guardianships (Florida); National Disability Institute
(Washington, DC); Washington Autism Alliance (Washington); Center for
Estate Administration Reform (North Carolina); Mental Health Advocacy
Services (California); Bettys' Hope (California); Kasem Cares
(California); People First of Washington (Washington); Self Advocates in
Leadership (Washington); Sage Eldercare Solutions (California); and
Hearing Loss Legal Fund (Utah). To read a copy of the letter,
No
state official or agency in California keeps statistics on probate
conservatorship cases. How many new petitions are filed annually in the
state? How many open cases are there? In other words, how many seniors
and people with disabilities are superior court judges in California
protecting through conservatorship orders? As attorney Thomas F. Coleman
once wrote in an op-ed article published in the Daily Journal legal
newspaper: “
James
A. Mulick, Ph.D. is a professor emeritus in the departments of
pediatrics and psychology at Ohio State University and at Nationwide
Children’s Hospital. His research has focused on developmental and
behavioral pediatrics, emphasizing the application of behavior analysis
in the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. As a
member of the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological
Association, Dr. Mulick advocates for the right of individuals with
developmental disabilities to effective treatment. He is a fellow of
four Divisions of the APA: Div. 1 (Society for General Psychology); Div.
25 (Behavior Analysis); Div. 33 (Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities/Autism Spectrum Disorders); and Div. 37 (Society for Child
and Family Policy and Practice). Dr. Mulick is a recipient of a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Psychological Association, the
John W. Jacobson Award for Critical Thinking from Div. 33, and the Karl
F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy. He is a published author
in the scientific literature in his specialties and an editor or
co-editor of 16 books, to most of which he was also a chapter
contributor. Dr. Muick studied psychology at Rutgers College in New
Brunswick, NJ, and earned his doctorate at The University of Vermont.
Sheri
Kellogg has become a member of the board of trustees of Spectrum
Institute. She has been a resident of Napa, California since 1971.
After growing up in that community, Sheri raised three children in Napa,
each of whom attended local schools and then went on to obtain college
degrees.
Spectrum
Institute has just released 
The
Video Blog of Thomas F. Coleman is a function of Spectrum E-News, the
editorial division of Spectrum Institute.
A
bill was recently introduced in the California Assembly that undermines
the right of people with communication disabilities to have a legal
defense attorney in probate conservatorship proceedings. 
Marshall
Kapp, 
The
statement of legal principles supporting the right of adults with
developmental disabilities to full and equal access to mental health
therapy has been endorsed by the National Disability Rights Network.
NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated
Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs
(CAP) for individuals with disabilities. P&As and CAPs work to
improve the lives of people with disabilities by guarding against abuse;
advocating for basic rights; and ensuring access and accountability in
health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, voting, and
within the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The legal
principles were formulated last year by the Mental Health Project of
Spectrum Institute and have been endorsed by several state and national
organizations. To read the principles and the list of endorsing
organizations,
Marshall
B
Spectrum
E-News, the editorial and news division of Spectrum Institute, has
released its monthly newsletter. The February 2021 edition reviews the
growth and activities of the organization in January. We saw an influx
of college interns to help staff our projects and the addition of mental
health professionals as advisors to our Mental Health Project.
There were also additions to our Attorney Fee Review Team – a project
examining how public and private funds are being used to pay for legal
services in probate conservatorship cases in California. The
e-newsletter is being sent to recipients via email. It is also available
Probate
Conservatorships
Attorney
John Di Pietro, research associate with Spectrum Institute, is reaching
out to judicial ethics scholars at universities throughout the United
States. He is inviting them to review our report to the Supreme Court of
California titled
Tina
Baldwin, director of the Mental Health Project of Spectrum Institute
sent a letter to Senator Karen Keiser, chair of the Labor, Commerce, and
Tribal Affairs Committee of the Washington State Legislature. It was
also shared with other legislators and staff on the committee. The
letter informed them of the economic impact that the denial of
appropriate mental health services can have on adults with developmental
disabilities who are employed. Violations of the right to prompt and
effective mental health therapy can adversely impact state entitlement
programs. They can also have detrimental effects on workers in
financial and other ways. To read the letter,
Jennifer Coleman will be designing and developing a new website for
Spectrum Institute. The executive director has selected a design
template and Jenny has started the planning process. Our website
will soon have a fresh new look and will be more user friendly.
Jenny is a multidisciplinary creative professional, graphic and web
designer. She is the owner of 
Michael
Waterstone, Dean of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, recently intoduced
us to Sande L. Buhai, director of the school's Public Interest Law
Department. She is posting an announcement regarding the
availability of summer and fall internships for students with Spectrum
Institute. Interns will be assigned to a variety of research and
advocacy projects designed to secure equal rights and justice for people
with cognitive and communication disabilities. Students will work under
the direction of attorney Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of Spectrum
Institute. Coleman is an alumnus of Loyola, graduating from the
law school in 1973. To read the announcement,
Daniel
B. LeGoff. Ph.D., LS. has accceted an invitation to be an advisor to our
Mental Health Project. He is a licensed and board-certified
pediatric neuropsychologist and the pioneer of LEGOŽ Therapy. He
specializes in the assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental and
neurobehavioral conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. He is
the author of LEGOŽ-Based Therapy: How to build social competence
through LEGOŽ-based Clubs for children with autism and related
conditions (Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2014). Action for Aspergers
says this about the book: LEGO-Based Therapy defines a
particular therapeutic approach. Its aim is to provide a social
development intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Conditions
(ASCs). LEGO-Based Therapy teaches turn taking, sharing, making eye
contact when needed and social rules adherence (using greetings).
Children are encouraged to swap roles and tasks and engage in
intelligent conflict resolution and social problem solving with very
little adult intervention." More recently, Dr. LeGoff wrote How
Lego-Based Therapy for Autism Works. Through a series of case
studies, the book explains how and why Lego therapy helps to promote the
development of social skills for children with autism spectrum disorders
(ASDs) and related conditions.
Randall
Phelps, M.D., Ph.D. has accepted an invitation to be an advisor to our
Mental Health Project. He is a Developmental and Behavioral
Pediatrician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Child
Development and Rehabilitation Center, Institute on Development and
Disability, Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Phelps attends on
interdisciplinary teams to provide diagnostic assessments and care to
children with developmental disabilities and/or behavioral conditions
throughout the state of Oregon and surrounding states. He is
co-editor of Trauma, Autism, and Neurological Disorders Integrating
Research, Practice, and Policy (Springer 2018) Topics
featured in the book include: the neurobiological contributors to
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
and its diagnosis in children with a history of trauma; interventions
for trauma and stressor-related disorders in preschool-aged children;
reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
diagnosis and care in a cultural context; special population
consideration in ASD identification and treatment; and trauma and
neurodevelopmental disorders from a public health perspective.
The
co-authors of Psychological First Aid for People with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse have
accepted our invitation to be advisors to the Mental Health Project of
Spectrum Institute. The book provides a complete, structured, and
evidence-based program for providing therapy to survivors of sexual
abuse with developmental disabilities.
We
are grateful to Sheri Kellogg, an experienced brand strategist, for
sharing her skills to help Spectrum Institute expand support for the
organization and its activities. Sheri has honed successful techniques
for using social media platforms to educate the public on important
issues while at the same time attracting people to participate as
volunteers or donors to help an organization more effectively advance
its mission. She is sharing those techniques with the executive director
and social media coordinator of Spectrum Institute and coaching us as we
implement her suggestions. Sheri provides marketing and advertising
consulting services thrugh her
Gary
LaVigna, Ph.D. has become an advisor to our Mental Health Project.
He is the Clinical Director of the Institute for Applied Behavior
Analysis in Los Angeles. He spends much of his time consulting with
organizations on establishing nonaversive behavior support plans for
individuals exhibiting severe and challenging behaviors and presenting
seminars on the topic throughout the world. Dr. LaVigna's work is
reported in numerous articles and his coauthored books, such as
Alternatives to Punishment, Progress Without Punishment and The
Periodic Service Review: A Total Quality Assurance System For Human
Services and Education. He is also coauthor of New Directions
in the Treatment of Aggressive Behavior for Persons with Mental and
Developmental Disabilities. (Nova Science Publishers, Ltd. 2015)
In
Retired
Superior Court Judge Stephen Lachs has become an advisor to the
Biza
Stenfert Kroese has accepted an invitation to become an advisor to the
Mental Health Project of Spectrum Institute. She is a Consultant
Clinical Psychologist and a Senior Researcher in the School of
Psychology at the University of Birmingham, UK, and Chair of CanDo, a
support service for parents with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Stenfert
Kroese is co-author of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People with
Intellectual Disabilities: Thinking Creatively (Palgrave Macmillan
2017). The book is based on the authors’ clinical experiences and
introduces novel approaches on how to adapt CBT assessment and treatment
methods for individual therapy and group interventions. It explains the
challenges of adapting CBT to the needs of clients with intellectual
disabilities and suggests innovative and practical solutions.
Brent
Druding has joined the team at Spectrum Institute to serve as our social
media coordinator. Brent will be sharing information about our
organization and its various projects through social media platforms
such as Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter, as well as through targeted
email communications. He will tailor our social media outreach to
audiences who will benefit by becoming aware of our research,
educational, and advocacy activities. Brent will help us connect and
commuicate with individuals, organizations, and networks, including
people with disabilities, their families and supporters, their
advocates, and their service providers. Outreach will also be directed
to lawyers, guardians, conservators, psychologists, social workers,
nonprofit organizations, and government officials and agencies. We are
grateful to Brent for his willingness to assist Spectrum Institute to
advance our mission in this way.
We
are pleased to announce that Reverend William C. Gaventa has accepted an
invitation to be an advisor to the
We
are pleased to announce that Dr. Matthew P. Janicki has become an
advisor to the 
Attorney
John Adam Di Pietro has agreed to participate as a research associate on
the 
The
inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Merrick Garland as his
nominee to be Attorney General offers hope to those of us who have
looked to the U.S. Department of Justice to protect civil rights and to
enforce federal nondiscrimination laws. The DOJ has been in a civil
rights coma for the last four years. It is about to wake up. When it
does, Spectrum Institute plans to remind its leaders of the need for DOJ
investigations into violations of federal laws, including the Americans
with Disabilities Act, by judges, attorneys, and court-appointed agents
in state guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. We will be
sending letters to various officials in the DOJ, with specific requests
for DOJ assistance to deal with ongoing federal law violations by these
state actors. The letters will be posted here after they have been sent.
A
grassroots coalition of conservatorship reform advocates is sponsoring a
Town Hall forum on Zoom on February 1, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
(pacific time).
Tina
Baldwin, director of the Mental Health Project of Spectrum Institute
made a presentation today to the Certified Professional Guardian Board
of the State of Washington. She advised the board that in mid-December,
the CDC added people with Down syndrome to list of those most at risk of
severe COVID. She emphasized that COVID-19 is 10 times deadlier for
people with Down syndrome. She encouraged the board to share this
information with guardians. Since many guardians are responsible for the
care of people with Down syndrome, they should be monitoring closely to
ensure that residential staff are providing the same level of precaution
as they do for seniors. For her full remarks to the board,
Dr.
Gloria Duffy has become a member of the
Brendon
Woods, Public Defender for Alameda County, has joined our
Spectrum
Institute is pleased to announce that Maia Gryskiewicz has accepted an
Production/Journalism internship position with our organization. She
will assist in the production of The Freedom Files – a
Adam
Soch, a videographer and editor with two decades of experience in pre to
post production projects, has agreed to serve as an advisor to The
Freedom Files – a 
Different
Brains has endorsed the
Spectrum
Institute sent a message today to the director of the Investigative
Reporting Program at the University of California’s Berkeley campus. The
message informs the director of an opportunity for students affiliated
with the program to investigate and report on systemic and systematic
problems with the probate conservatorship system in California. Her
attention was specifically drawn the study we have launched that will
investigate the way in which public and private money is being used to
finance deficient legal services for seniors and people with
disabilities who are targeted by and ensnared in these proceedings. For
a copy of the message, 
The
Brook
J. Changala has become a member of the board of trustees of Spectrum
Institute. 
Spectrum
Institute sent a letter today to California Chief Justice Tani
Cantil-Sakauye in her capacity as chairperson of the Judicial Council.
The letter asks the Council to authorize its Civil Jury Instruction
Advisory Committee to develop a set of approved jury instructions for
probate conservatorship proceedings. Such instructions are absent from
the current jury instruction manual. Accompanying the letter is a set of
model jury instructions for limited conservatorship proceedings
developed a few weeks ago by Thomas F. Coleman, legal director of
Spectrum Institute. A copy of the letter was sent to Court of Appeal
Justice Martin J. Tangerman (photo) who chairs the Advisory Committee on
Civil Jury Instructions. For a copy of our letter,
