Legal defense attorneys who were previously absolved of wrongdoing in the judicial proceedings concerning the death of esteemed psychiatry professor, Judith Brook, have made an appeal this week. They beseeched the Second Circuit to uphold a lesser court’s ruling which established that temporary guardians, such as themselves, are not considered state actors within the purview of federal jurisdiction.
This request for affirmation originates from a case lodged in a New York federal court wherein the lawyers served as court-designated interim guardians. The role of these attorneys in the professor’s demise had been scrutinized but they were ultimately exonerated.
The Second Circuit’s decision may prove pivotal establishing whether these temporary guardians may be subjected to federal jurisdiction. It could potentially redefine the legal landscape surrounding the responsibilities and jurisdictional boundaries of appointed guardians in fraught cases such as this.
The details of the original case, as well as updates on the appeal to the Second Circuit, can be found at this Law360 link.