PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF PILOT
PROJECT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING OF UNCONTESTED ROGERS
REVIEWS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE SUFFOLK DIVISION
The Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, in conjunction with the Suffolk Division, is expanding the pilot project currently in effect in the Worcester and Middlesex Divisions to use an administrative process for uncontested ROGERS reviews and extensions to the Suffolk Division.
Uncontested requests for renewal of treatment plans for the ward may be processed by Assistant Registers who have been designated by First Justice John M. Smoot.
If no changes to the original court approved treatment plan are proposed, and there is no contest, the treatment plan may be recommended for extension for twelve (12) months.
Changes to medications or dosage which offer increased treatment options for the ward or which add newly approved antipsychotic medications to the patient's regimen and which are proposed with the assent of the ward's attorney will be considered for extension of the order without a hearing. If the treatment plan does not adequately address the proposed changes, the matter shall be scheduled for a hearing.
Uncontested ROGERS reviews will no longer be conducted in the courtroom. Uncontested ROGERS review filings which have been reviewed by an Assistant Register will be submitted to the judge with a recommendation for allowance or hearing.
A set of forms which must be presented to the court for administrative processing in accordance with this project have been developed by the Guardianship Committee of the Probate and Family Court and approved by the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court. The forms designated for use in this project are available in the Suffolk Division.
Initial petitions for Guardianship seeking authority to administer antipsychotic medication to a proposed ward will continue to be determined by a judge. Initial petitions and all annual reviews for wards who are minors will also continue to be determined by a judge.
An informational meeting was held for the Assistant Registers and for counsel who regularly handle these types of cases at the Suffolk Division on February 17, 2006.
The pilot project in the Suffolk Division of the Probate and Family Court will commence on April 6, 2006. Assistant Registers John Scully, Katherine Potter and Patrick Yoyo will be managing this project in that Division.
The Guardianship Committee of the Probate and Family Court and the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court look forward to working with the bar to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative which is working well in the Worcester and Middlesex Divisions
If there are any questions or concerns regarding this project in the Suffolk Division, please direct them to Assistant Register John Scully who can be reached at 617.788.8348.
