Advisory Committees

Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee

Makes recommendations to the Judicial Council for improving the administration of justice in decedent estates, conservatorships, guardianships, other probate matters, and on mental health and developmental disability issues.

Meetings

No Upcoming Meetings Scheduled

Check back for new meeting information or visit Past Meetings page.

Past Meetings

Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee Past Meetings
Members

Under rule 10.44 of the California Rules of Court, the advisory committee comprises judicial officers with experience in probate; probate court lawyers, examiners, and investigators; lawyers who practice primarily decedents’ estate, trust, guardianship, conservatorship, or elder abuse law; persons knowledgeable in mental health or developmental disability law; a public interest lawyer; a private fiduciary; and a county counsel, public guardian, or similar public officer familiar with guardianship and conservatorship issues. The committee reports to the Judicial Council’s Rules Committee. Members are appointed by the Chief Justice to staggered three-year terms.

Download the committee roster.
 

  • Hon. Jayne Chong-Soon Lee, Chair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin
  • Hon. Julia Campins, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa
  • Hon. Candice Garcia-Rodrigo, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
  • Hon. Maria E. Stratton, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Eight
  • Ms. Johanna Bloomfield, Managing Attorney, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Los Angeles
  • Mr. Mark A. Gonzalez, Lead Deputy County Counsel, Office of the County Counsel, County of Santa Clara
  • Ms. Sheri Gulino, Probate Director, Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
  • Mr. Christopher Haug, Probate Attorney, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Ms. Bertha Sanchez Hayden, Directing Attorney, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Los Angeles
  • Mr. Thomas M. Johnson, Managing Attorney, Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
  • Ms. Marilyn R. Kriebel, Professional Fiduciary, Kriebel & Associates, El Cajon
  • Dr. Bonnie J. Olsen, Professor of Clinical Family Medicine & Vice Chair for Research, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles
  • Ms. Stella Pantazis, Managing Attorney & General Counsel, Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco
  • Ms. Anne M. Rudolph, Attorney at Law, Hughes & Pizzuto, San Diego
  • Mr. Ryan J. Szczepanik, Senior Wealth Strategist, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, San Francisco
  • Ms. Sandra Marquez Webb, Court Investigator, Superior Court of California, County of Solano

Judicial Council Lead Staff to the Committee

  • Mr. Corby Sturges, Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
About

Date established

Key projects of this advisory body are outlined in the annual agenda. 

Rule 10.44. Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee

(a) Area of focus
The committee makes recommendations to the council for improving the administration of justice in proceedings involving:

(1) Decedents' estates, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and other probate matters; and

(2) Mental health and developmental disabilities issues.

(b) Additional duty
The committee must coordinate activities and work with the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee in areas of common concern and interest.

Contact Info