The New Jersey Appellate Division heard an appeal from an order granting a legal guardian’s application to intervene in M.F.’s involuntary commitment proceedings. M.F. had been involuntarily committed for close to a decade by the time this appeal arose. Counsel argued that M.F. was ready to be stepped down to a less restrictive housing situation, but M.F.’s legal guardian — his brother — disagreed. The Appellate Division ruled that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by permitting the guardian to intervene on behalf of his ward. Interesting aside: When it described M.F.’s mental illness, the Appellate Division mentioned that he was accepted to Princeton but instead chose to go to Villanova. Is that a sign of mental illness, Mr. Wright?
