Opinion
24S-MS-00399
11-22-2024
Order Establishing the Indiana Guardianship Oversight Task Force
Loretta H. Rush Chief Justice of Indiana
Indiana's court system is central to protecting seniors and adults with disabilities throughout our state. Each year, the number of vulnerable Hoosiers requiring guardianship or other caretaking services continues to rise. Caring for these individuals by coming together and creating a better system is both crucial and timely.
In recent years, it has become clear that further research on issues surrounding guardianship can help Indiana create a more effective system of oversight and supervision by aligning resources and designing a system that is easy to navigate and ensures justice is fairly administered.
Accordingly, the Court hereby ESTABLISHES the Indiana Guardianship Oversight Task Force. The Task Force shall:
1. Research guardianship best practices and innovative programming that affects guardianship oversight;
2. Identify possible strategies to align resources and improve guardianship oversight within Indiana's judicial system;
3. Recommend innovations and strategies to improve adult guardianship functions- including enhanced communication protocols and the use of technology-to manage the guardianship system in Indiana;
4. Assess the potential impact of reform efforts on the Indiana judicial system;
5. Develop improvements-including policies, procedures and pilot programming-that will lead to better outcomes for all stakeholders, such as protected persons and people at risk of guardianship; and
6. Provide a final report to the Court, not later than December 1, 2025, with findings and recommendations on best practices, future programming, policies, and procedures to improve Indiana's guardianship system.
A list of Task Force members is attached to this Order as Exhibit A. The Task Force is authorized to create workgroups to carry out its work. The Office of Judicial Administration shall assign staff to assist the Task Force.
All Justices concur.
Exhibit A - Members of the Guardianship Oversight Task Force
• Hon. Geoffrey Bradley (Judge, Monroe County) (Co-Chair)
• Hon. Sean Persin (Judge, Tippecanoe County) (Co-Chair)
• Ken Bennett (Attorney and Director, SCOUT Advocacy and Center for At-Risk Elders)
• Hon. David Certo (Judge, Marion County)
• Felicity Havrilla (Attorney, Havrilla & Nolin LLC)
• John Longnaker (Attorney & Director, Guardian Advocates Inc. (VASIA))
• Dr. Derek Nord (Director, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community)
• Mag. Ana Osan (Judicial Officer, Porter County)
• Karly Sciortino-Poulter (Advocacy Director, The Arc of Indiana)
• Kristin Steckbeck (Attorney, Dale Huffman & Babcock)
• Rakuya Trice (Deputy Director, Indiana Legal Services)