April 23 2004

Performance of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia

On June 19, 2003 CCE joined with the Bar Association of DC to form a Probate Review Committee "to discuss issues brought to public attention" by the articles. The Review Committee held nine meetings between June 17, 2003 and February 5, 2004 and, at its first meeting, "determined to use the articles as a basis for examining the serious problems perceived to exist in the Probate Division and to recommend solutions to any problems identified by the Committee." The Review Committee issued its final report to Chief Judge King on February 25 for a two month period of review. The report has not been made public, pending action by the DC Superior Court. The report offers recommendations addressing selected Probate Division administrative and operating procedures, including providing direct judicial oversight of guardianship and conservator reports; enhancing communication between the probate bar, the bench, and Probate Division staff; suspending or disqualifying from the Fiduciary Panel seriously derelict probate attorneys; and other issues. It excluded from its review the perspectives of clients' families, groups who provide legal services to the elderly, the DC Government, and jurisdictions which successfully oversee the adult guardianship and conservatorship process.