Senior Justice: Elder Courts

The aging of the American population has placed greater demands on government, including the judicial branch. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Americans age 65 and over is projected to double to approximately 83.7 million people by 2050. The surge of this age group requires public organizations to adapt to the needs of this vulnerable population.

Across the country, court systems have undertaken initiatives to support senior citizens that come into contact with the legal process. This contact could include being a plaintiff in a lawsuit, a complainant in a domestic violence case, a victim in a criminal fraud indictment, or the subject of guardianship proceeding. The judicial branch strives to ensure senior citizens are afforded enhanced support, access and participation in court proceedings. To achieve these goals, elder court initiatives depend upon the collaboration of partners in the management network.

The Court’s Response

Effectively responding to elder issues requires specialized case management by judges and administrators, as well as collaboration among stakeholders. To skillfully identify and manage elder cases, court systems have developed training resources for judges and administrators. Committees and task forces have been used extensively in planning and developing elder court initiatives. Additionally, the nonprofit National Center for State Courts has established a Center for Elders and the Courts, which provides a wealth of information on aging, probate, and elder abuse in the legal system. The Center provides premier web-based trainings, toolkits, standards, and evaluation tools for elder court initiatives.

Elder Court Models

Elder court initiatives currently fall into two main models:

Elder Justice Centers – Several court systems have established elder justice centers to provide a range of support services to senior citizens. The pioneering Elder Justice Center of the Thirteenth Judicial District of Florida opened in 1999 through grant funding from the Area Agency on Aging, Victim of Crimes Association, and Retirement Research Association. The Center provides assistance, education and access to persons over age 60 involved in guardianship, civil, criminal or family court matters. In Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court recently opened the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts. Established as a result of Report and Recommendations from the 38-member Elder Law Task Force, this office promotes best practices in the areas of guardianship, elder abuse and neglect, and access to justice.

Elder Protection Courts – Judge Joyce Cram, writing for the National Center for State Courts, describes elder protection courts as “a specialized docket that hears all cases of physical, financial, and emotional abuse of elders (defined as 65 or older).”  Elder protection courts go a step beyond providing support services, establishing a court division specifically designed to address the needs of senior citizens who have been victimized, neglected or exploited. In 2002, Judge Julie Conger, of Alameda County, California, led the establishment of the first elder protection court in the country. In 2004, the Superior Court of Contra Costa County expanded on neighboring Alameda County’s model. Contra Costa County added criminal cases onto their elder protection court docket, to include any case in which an elderly person is a victim. In Cook County, Illinois, the Circuit Court’s Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division takes a holistic approach to addressing elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. The range of case types heard by the Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division is specifically defined by court order. Elder protection court judges are often challenged to resolve several connected cases in a timely fashion while ensuring the safety and dignity of the senior citizen.

Network Collaboration

Collaboration among stakeholders is a key component of managing elder court initiatives and helps ensure an inclusive approach to resolutions. This management network includes:

• Local agency for aging
• Adult protective services
• District attorney
• Public defender
• Probation
• Bar associations
• Administration on Aging
• Mental health agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Law centers
• Health care providers
• Law enforcement