PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

PANEL 1 - "Judicial Perspectives on Advanced Conservatorship Practice and the Role of Court-Appointed Counsel"

This panel is designed for experienced Court-Appointed Counsel and examines conservatorship practice from a judicial perspective with an emphasis on case trajectory, record development, and effective issue framing. A Superior Court judge and seasoned practitioners will discuss how the Court evaluates complex conservatorship matters over time, relies on CAC to clarify and narrow disputes, and manages cases involving competing narratives and procedural pressure. The discussion focuses on how experienced CAC can assist the Court in maintaining control of the case while supporting sound, durable judicial decision-making.

Advanced Topics Covered:

• The role of CAC in managing the overall trajectory of a conservatorship case, not just individual hearings
• How the Court evaluates whether a case is progressing, stagnating, or escalating
• Judicial perspectives on CAC credibility, neutrality, and reliability in difficult cases
• How CAC can assist the Court by:
  • Distilling voluminous or conflicting records
  • Identifying dispositive factual and procedural issues
  • Narrowing disputes to what actually requires adjudication
• The Court’s use of Court Investigator reports in conjunction with:
  • CAC observations and reporting
  • Medical and functional evidence
  • Declarations and testimony
• Structuring findings and orders that:
  • Are clear and workable
  • Reduce future conflict and repeat litigation
  • Support long-term case stability
     

PANEL 2 - "When Everyone Has an Agenda: Family Control, Capacity Disputes, and Less Restrictive Alternatives"

This panel addresses the most challenging contested conservatorship cases—those driven by family dynamics, control concerns, disputed capacity, and pressure on Court-Appointed Counsel to take sides. Panelists will explore CAC’s role when adult children seek conservatorship over a parent, when medical evidence is unavailable or contested, and when requests are made to force evaluations or assessments.  Drawing heavily on real-world practice, panelists will examine how CAC navigates procedural pressure, strategic filings, and competing demands while evaluating credibility and protecting client autonomy. The discussion will also focus on CAC’s role in identifying and applying less restrictive alternatives to conservatorship, including supported decision-making, particularly when medical evidence is unavailable or contested.  Emphasis will be placed on professional judgment, ethical restraint, and strategies for navigating credibility disputes while preserving the conservatee’s rights and dignity.

This panel satisfies the California Rules of Court requirement for instruction on less restrictive alternatives.

Topics Covered:

• Conservatorships initiated by adult children seeking control of a parent
• Identifying financial, emotional, and dependency-based motivations
• CAC’s role when family conflict drives procedural escalation
• Managing cases where:
  • No capacity declaration can be obtained
  • Medical professionals decline to participate
  • Evaluations are resisted or contested
• Requests to compel capacity evaluations or mental assessments
• Procedural and ethical considerations surrounding forced evaluations
• CAC’s role when the client opposes evaluation entirely
• Distinguishing refusal from incapacity
• Due-process implications of forced evaluations
• Applying less restrictive alternatives, including supported decision-making, in real cases
• Managing pressure from family members, counsel, and care providers
• Maintaining neutrality without becoming passive or irrelevant
• Maintaining ethical boundaries while protecting client autonomy

 
PANEL 3 - "Getting Out: Terminating Conservatorships, Jury Trials, and Restoring Client Autonomy"

This panel examines one of the most complex and consequential aspects of conservatorship practice: client-initiated efforts to terminate or modify an existing conservatorship. Panelists will discuss CAC’s role when a conservatee seeks restoration of autonomy, including evidentiary requirements, procedural considerations, and the strategic realities of jury trial requests. Attendees will gain insight into how courts evaluate termination petitions and how Court-Appointed Counsel can effectively advocate for a client’s expressed wishes while maintaining credibility with the Court.

Topics Covered:

• CAC’s obligations when a conservatee seeks termination or modification
• Evidentiary burdens and procedural posture in termination proceedings
• How termination requests are evaluated
• Strategic realities of jury trial demands in conservatorship cases
• Risks and benefits of jury trials for CAC and the client
• Preserving credibility while advocating for restoration of rights
• Practical guidance for navigating exit strategies responsibly

SPEAKERS:
Hon. Gus T. May | Los Angeles Superior Court
Hon. Mitchell Beckloff (Ret.) | Signature Resolution
Steven P. Beltran | Beltran Smith, LLP
Brittany Duke | Barbaro, Chinen, Pitzer and Duke, LLP
Nickolas S. Lewis | Lobello Lamb Lewis & Riley LLP
Lindsey F. Munyer | Keystone Law Group, P.C.
Dr. Stacey Wood, Ph.D. | Licensed Clinical Psychologist