Elder Justice in the Courts
The Office of Elder Justice in the Courts (OEJC) was established by the Supreme Court in 2015 to assist the Court in implementing recommendations contained in the 2014 Elder Law Task Force’s Report and Recommendations.
The OEJC is committed to protecting Pennsylvania’s rapidly growing population of elders from all forms of abuse - whether financial, physical, psychological, or through neglect.
The OEJC educates judges, court staff, attorneys, guardians, the public, and others about the warning signs of elder abuse, and how to respond to suspected elder abuse. The OEJC also promotes best practices addressing elder abuse and neglect, as well as in the area of guardianship and access to justice in the Commonwealth’s courts.
In addition to education and best practices, the OEJC actively fosters collaboration with other elder justice entities and branches of government to enhance elder Pennsylvanians’ ability to fully participate in legal proceedings.
2022 Annual Report
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Focused on addressing critical issues confronting Pennsylvania’s elders, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts released its 2022 annual report – a timely review of progress and implementation of new efforts in addressing the needs of older Pennsylvanians. |
Second Progress Report on the Work of the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts
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Established in 2015, the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts' mission is to identify and address elder justice issues affecting the Commonwealth’s elders. The Advisory Council and OEJC exist to identify areas of need and challenges faced by elders, and to improve the ability of Pennsylvania courts to meet those needs. The Second Progress Report on the Work of the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts published in 2022 details the accomplishments of the Advisory Council and OEJC since their creation in 2015.
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MidPenn Legal Services Project Kickoff
In 2022, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts was awarded an Elder Justice Innovation Grant by the federal Administration for Community Living to assess and implement improvements in the handling of adult guardianship cases. The Office of Elder Justice in the Courts (OEJC), working with the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts (Advisory Council), is overseeing the implementation of the grant.
MidPenn Legal Services, Dauphin County Orphans’ Court, the Advisory Council, and the OEJC are partnering on a grant-funded pilot legal services project to provide representation to alleged incapacitated persons and incapacitated persons aged 60+ in Dauphin County at all guardianship proceedings in which private counsel has not been retained. Watch the Dauphin County & MidPenn Legal Services Project Kickoff here.
Elder Abuse Town Hall Virtual Events
Watch the Understanding and Identifying Elder Abuse virtual event and victim testimonials from Gerry and Peggy on Vimeo.
View the Preventing and Responding to Elder Abuse Resources List.
Watch the Preventing and Responding to Financial Exploitation event and a victim testimonial from Amanda on Vimeo.
Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts
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The Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts was established in 2015 to advise the OEJC regarding the implementation of the Elder Law Task Force’s Report and Recommendations regarding best practices, judicial rules, and legislation to benefit elder citizens of the Commonwealth. The mission of the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts is to identify and address elder justice issues affecting the Commonwealth’s elders. The Advisory Council and OEJC exist to identify areas of need and challenges faced by elders, and to improve the ability of Pennsylvania courts to meet those needs. The Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts’ Progress Report published in 2019 details the accomplishments of the Advisory Council and OEJC since their creation in 2015. |
Elder Law Task Force
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In light of the special needs and challenges facing elder Pennsylvanians, in April 2013, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania established a multi-disciplinary Elder Law Task Force to address issues involving guardianships, elder abuse, and access to justice. The Task Force was chaired by Justice Debra Todd, and was comprised of 36 experts in all areas of elder law, bringing together the diverse and critical perspectives of the myriad stakeholders in the aging network. In November 2014, the Elder Law Task Force’s Report and Recommendations was issued containing over 130 recommendations to enhance the way Pennsylvania elders interact with the Commonwealth's judiciary. |