January 2025 Mental Health Law Newsletter

By Sandra M. Blake

An introduction to the issue from the editor.

By Ann Krasuski

The pilot project proposal seeks to create “a single court call wherein an assigned judge hears a case involving a resident with legal issues in both the County Division (Mental Health) and the Probate Division (Guardianship). The dually‐assigned judge would be … prepared to hear the matters under both areas of law.” There would be three “pathways” to this combined docket, according to the proposal.

By Judge Maureen Ward Kirby, Judge Daniel Malone, & Judge Susan Kennedy Sullivan

Because of the size of our Cook County Court system, in certain circumstances, there is a more burdensome, costly, and inefficient legal process where a resident is a respondent in two separate legal arenas: a resident is or will be ordered to outpatient treatment for his/her/their mental health treatment and where the same Cook County resident is or will benefit from some level of guardianship.

The Illinois Lawyers’ Political Action Committee (LAWPAC) needs your help to fulfill its mission to support the legislative goals of the ISBA and Illinois’ legal community.