Judge puts some Murray Center residents under court-appointed guardian

A judge in Clinton County issued an injunction Monday that puts some residents of the Warren G. Murray Development Center under the custody of a court-appointed guardian, rather than the state, which is closing the center.

Circuit Judge William Becker issued the order, which could put a wrinkle in the state's plan to close the state-operated center in Centralia. Becker's order covers Murray Center residents who do not have private guardians and are wards of the state. The court-appointed guardian will be Stuart Freeman, a local attorney.

The order was granted at the request of Friends of Murray Center, which is a group of employees and others who oppose the closing. Wylie Blair, an attorney for Friends of Murray Center, said the order does not prevent the center's closure.

"It just precludes the residents of Murray Center who are wards of the state from being transferred out of Murray Center, absent consent of the guardian," Blair said. "It's up to him to look into their situation and find out whether their best interests are being followed."

He added, "We're not seeking to prevent the place from closing, we're just seeking to make sure, whether Murray does or does not close, that the wards of the state have their best interests looked after."

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2013/08/08/2734305/judge-puts-some-murray-center.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2013/08/08/2734305/judge-puts-some-murray-center.html#storylink=cpy

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Judge puts some Murray Center residents under court-appointed guardian