Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc. v. Commissioner of Department of Mental Retardation

This is an appeal from motions brought by “guardianship counsel” for patients at The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc. (JRC),2 seeking to be appointed next friend3 and to intervene in Judge Rotenberg Educ. Ctr., Inc. v. Commissioner of the Dep’t of Mental Retardation (No. 1), ante 430 (1997).

Nine attorneys, who collectively refer to themselves as guardianship counsel, filed a motion which asked the judge to appoint them as next friend to patients they represent in substituted judgment cases.4 Presuming to act as next friends, guardianship counsel then moved to intervene in the contempt…