Conservatorship Study
Protecting the Rights of Adults Under Conservatorship in California
February 2024 - November 2026
In February 2024 CEJC received a grant from the Judicial Council of California (JCC) for Protecting the Rights of Adults Under Conservatorship in California, a 35-month project to identify court practices for ensuring due process and accountability in conservatorships. We will be exploring conservators’ compliance with statutory requirements, court innovations, and less restrictive alternatives. Primary activities include a case file review of at least 2000 conservatorships from a sample of courts, focus groups with court personnel and stakeholders, and a comprehensive report with recommendations. The project was mandated by AB 1194 (and revised by AB 1756). A report, based on our findings, will be submitted to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027.
Members of the CEJC Conservatorship Study Project Team include Guardianship and Elder Justice experts from across the country:
- Bonnie Olsen, PhD, Professor of Family Medicine and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicne of USC
- Lori Mars, J.D., LLM, Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine & Deputy Director, National Center on Elder Abuse, Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC
- Erin Thayer, Project Specialist, Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC
- Pam Teaster, PhD, Professor & Director, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech
- Naomi Karp, J.D., Independent Consultant
- Erica Wood, J.D., Independent Consultant
- Melissa Brown, JD, Elder Law Clinic Director, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
- Lacey Mickleburgh, J.D., Senior Staff Attorney, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific