NJ High Court Strips Fees From ‘Exemplary’ Guardianship Lawyers

Attorneys defending New Jerseyans at risk of state-imposed guardianships aren’t entitled to fees for extraordinary work, the state high court ruled Wednesday.

Despite the lengths lawyers must go to—briefs, calls, and hearings seeking benefits for residents with disabilities or impairments—counsel appointed by courts must consider these matters pro bono because no statute or court rule allows for fee-shifting, the united New Jersey Supreme Court said in an unauthored unanimous opinion.

The ruling is a win for local governments worried their limited guardianship program budgets would be expended paying legal bills of attorneys opposing them. Sussex County argued that if ...