Conservatorship of J.G. CA1/1

BACKGROUND

On March 2, 2020, the Contra Costa County Public Guardian (Public Guardian) filed a petition seeking reappointment as conservator of the person of J.G. pursuant to the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act. (Welf. & Inst. Code,1 § 5000 et seq.) The petition alleged that, as a result of a mental disorder, J.G. was unable to provide for her “basic personal needs for food, clothing, and shelter, and as [a] result continue[d] to be gravely disabled.” As required by section 5361, the declarations of two physicians were attached to the petition, attesting to the fact that J.G. was gravely disabled. In addition

All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code

unless otherwise specified. 1 to reappointment as J.G.’s conservator, the Public Guardian requested that the court impose two disabilities: a firearms/deadly weapon prohibition and an order that J.G. be denied the right to refuse treatment related to being gravely disabled, including psychotropic medications. After a continuance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a bench trial was held remotely via ZOOM on June 2, 2020. Dr. Levin’s resume was admitted into evidence, and he was qualified as an expert in…