10/08/2026
Yesterday was an amazing day for me and my co-counsel, Shannon Taylor. A couple of months ago, I took on a case involving a family desperately trying to help someone they loved who had been placed under an emergency special guardianship. I have always had a special place in my heart for cases where someone may be vulnerable to having their voice taken away. This case reminded me of something important: a diagnosis does not define a person’s capacity.
Any serious, fatal, or degenerative medical condition does not automatically mean someone is incapable of making decisions about their own life. There is an enormous difference between needing assistance and losing the right to choose for yourself.
I’ll readily admit that guardianship law is not my usual area of practice. But sometimes a case finds you, and being an advocate means being willing to learn, ask for help, and surround yourself with people who know what you don’t. I called my friend and fellow attorney Kathy Jones Wallis and asked if she would co-counsel with me on the competency issues. Kathy recommended Shannon Taylor instead and she could not have made a better recommendation.
Over the past few months, Shannon and I dug in, learned, prepared, and advocated for something most of us take for granted every day: the right to have a voice in your own life. And today, that voice was restored. The emergency guardianship was terminated, restoring our client’s ability to make decisions for himself and reclaiming something far more valuable than anything monetary: his autonomy.
At the end of the hearing, our clients were so happy with the result that they gave me a hug. That moment meant more to me than I can express. It reminded me that our work is not just about legal outcomes...it is about helping real people regain control of their lives. This case and experience reminded me why I became a lawyer. Not every victory comes with a verdict or a settlement check. Sometimes, victory is the restoration of a person’s dignity, independence, and right to direct their own life. Those are the victories that stay with you and keep you motivated as an advocate.
