Amici curiae (“friend of the court”) brief to support an appeal of a Missouri case involving critical right-to-counsel issues in adult guardianship cases. 10 disability and civil rights organizations joined this brief.
The amici brief argues that a person subject to guardianship has the right to hire a zealous advocate to challenge the terms of the guardianship under federal due process grounds, and it educated the court about best practices identified through national trends in the field.
The Center for Public Representation developed this Handbook and PowerPoint as part of a project designed to educate court personnel on rethinking guardianship. This project was generously supported by the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council.
Amicus brief filed in Britney Spears’ conservatorship case by American Civil Liberties Union with the support of Center for Public Representation and 25 civil rights and disability rights organizations.
The amicus brief argues that Britney Spears has the right to select her own attorney for her conservatorship proceedings. The brief also urges the court to ensure Ms. Spears has access to assistance and tools, including supported decision-making, to make this choice.
News article describing state guardianship reform efforts in California. Discusses Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
Visit resource: After Britney Spears testimony, lawmakers push changes to conservatorship laws
Letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding federal response of guardianship and conservatorship reform as highlighted by Britney Spears’ experiences.
Article discussing Supported Decision-Making and Britney Spears. Describes the disability community movement to create guardianship alternatives. Features CPR partners Jimmy C., CPR pilot participant with Nonotuck, and Jordan Anderson, Co-Lead of Wisconsin Supported Decision-Making state team and Youth Ambassador from the Center on Youth Voice/Youth Choice first community of practice.
Op-Ed describing Britney Spears’ conservatorship case including discussion of Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
News story on guardianship reform and Britney Spears featuring discussion of Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
Visit resource: How Britney Spears’ Case Could Change the Future of Conservatorship
Statement from Disability Justice and Supported Decision-Making Advocates: Britney Spears Spotlights the Need for Change Now
A Fact Sheet from the Massachusetts Advocates for Supported Decision-Making (MASDM) about the Massachusetts SDM bills, S.124 and H.272, introduced in 2021.
