Category: GRAND JURY REPORT

Grand Jury Calls for Reforms in Conservatorship Legal Services

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury issued a report on December 20, 2022, calling for reforms to the manner in which legal defense services are provided to adults with mental or developmental disabilities in probate conservatorship cases in that county. The report contains 13 recommendations on how the Public Defender’s Office can improve the quality of legal services in the 300 new petitions filed annually and for the 3,000 adults for whom that office is attorney of record in ongoing conservatorships. To read or download the report, titled “Conservatorships: A Case for Zealous Advocacy,” click here. The Santa Clara […]

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PROBATE CONSERVATORSHIP CRIES OUT FOR REFORM

In response to a request from Spectrum Institute arising from our 2021 report on legal defense services in probate conservatorship proceedings, the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury initiated an investigation into such legal services in that county. The grand jury’s annual report was released today.  A major section of it pertains to conservatorship legal defense services funded by Alameda County.  The grand jury found major deficiencies in the delivery of legal services by the Alameda County Department of Public Defender.  Several recommendations are made to correct these deficiencies.  One recommendation encourages the Board of Supervisors to consider removing this function […]

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