The judge overseeing a judicial task force to assess Probate Court procedures and oversight says it was a mistake not to include members of the public whose lives have been impacted by the system.
Chief Arizona Appeals Court Judge Ann Timmer said that she will recommend adding two people with firsthand experiences of the court's assuming control of a relative's care and finances.
"It is a missing link," Timmer said at the end of the task force's first meeting. "It also struck me that we do not have . . . a public member. We need to have them."
Her comments came as a small group of self-described Probate Court victims protested outside the Arizona Supreme Court building. They said the task force is made up of a "chummy" circle of 19 judges, lawyers, fiduciaries and state administrators with no stake in reforms.
"Nobody was angry in there. Nobody was offended in there. Nobody has a personal issue in there," said Patti Gomes, a Scottsdale resident who contends that her mother's estate was drained in less than seven months by court-appointed fiduciaries and lawyers. "I am enraged at what is going on in the Probate Court."
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Judge: Add 2 Laymen to Probate Panel
2 of 19 is not a good balance... Perhaps some professional people other than judges, lawyers, fiduciaries and state administrators. Lets see some bankers or financial advisors who have made a career of helping their clients build an estate, a retirement nest egg. How about some pastors or YMCA Directors... there are many other choices other than those in the "chummy" circle!
ReplyDeleteIt has to be at least an equal ratio or the two are simply "tokens."
ReplyDeleteLet's have some family members on the panel!
More non-lawyers, please Judge Timmer.
ReplyDeleteThe more non-lawyers you have, the more credible the panel will be.
It appears the two lay people are family members, StandUp.
ReplyDeleteHolly's right on point!
ReplyDeleteHats off to the victims who stood up to be heard!
ReplyDelete