NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexicans under guardianship now have a formal document that breaks down their rights. The New Mexico Supreme Court has adopted the Bill of Rights for Adults Who Have a Guardian, which is a list of 21 rights covering three areas: access to justice, core human rights, and decision-making. They include the right to safe living conditions, to have a competent guardian, and to access services.
When problems arise, an adult under guardianship can send a letter to the judge, and a hearing can be set to discuss the issue. The Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders, the group behind the bill of rights, said they wanted to draft a document that was easy to read and understand. “So the person who is under guardianship will know what their rights are. It’s not in legal terminology. It’s not big difficult words. It’s on an easy-to-read level,” said Judge Lee Kirksey, Fifth Judicial District Court.
The bill of rights will now be distributed to district court judges throughout the state, and the courts are working to notify guardians and those under guardianship.