Editor’s Note

Prior to the Mental Health Section Council’s October 28, 2024, meeting, Mark Heyrman posted a proposal for a Cook County pilot program on this Section Council’s Central Community chat and asked for comment. He noted, “The County Division (which handles commitment and involuntary treatment matters) and the Probate Division (which handles guardianships for disabled adults) are working on a pilot project to coordinate when an individual has a matter in both divisions.”

“To some extent this is a uniquely Cook County problem. Given the volume of litigation and the number of judges, the Circuit Court is divided into many divisions. But creating coordination between guardianship proceedings and mental health matters makes some sense everywhere,” according to Heyrman. 

While several Section Council members spoke in favor of the proposal at the meeting, we were unable to vote on the proposal because a quorum wasn’t present. Heyrman requested comments, criticisms, or suggestions to relay to the judges proposing the pilot project. Because the Mental Health Law Section is comprised of attorneys who represent individuals with mental illnesses, guardians, the State, and mental health service providers, to name a few, a robust discussion was anticipated. However, only one detailed commentary was submitted in response to the request.

Both the proposal and commentary were published in the January 2025 issue of Mental Health Matters. The proposal was later the subject of Cook County General Administrative Order 2025-04, effective February 20, 2025.

Several months later, an article in support of the pilot project was submitted for publication. This editor then contacted the original author for rebuttal. Thanks to Michelle Luburic and Ann Krasuski for the point and counterpoint articles in this issue. Watch upcoming issues for reports on the effectiveness of the pilot project. 

Sandra Blake is a staff attorney at the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.