Cuccinelli named to Chief Justice’s Commission on Mental Health Law Reform

Centerville, Virginia, June 5, 2007 – State Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37) was asked this month by the Chief Justice of Virginia’s State Supreme Court, the Honorable Leroy Hassell, to join him on a commission to review the current operations of the judicial system with regard to the mentally ill.

The commission’s guiding principle states, “The mental health services system, whatever the source of financing, should assure access to recovery-oriented services needed by persons with severe mental illness, should facilitate consumer choice, and should protect consumers and others from harm.” Cuccinelli remarked that, “As a court appointed attorney for mentally ill patients, I have been advising mentally ill individuals dealing with the judicial system longer than I have been in the Virginia Senate. I am glad to join the Chief Justice in this effort and I am honored to serve on this commission.”

Senator Cuccinelli is the resident expert in the Virginia Senate on this issue of mental health in the judicial system, and he has sponsored bills addressing problems related to mental illness and the judicial system virtually every year since he arrived in the Virginia State Senate.

“I look forward to working with the other members of the Chief Justice’s commission and I truly believe that turning over rocks such as these will really shed some light on where our justice system is excelling and where it is falling short in dealing with the mentally ill”

Thats right, the 37th distirct is represented by a real senator, not a Tim Kaine yes(wo)man. So while Janet Oleszek talks about being a "leader," Cuccinelli is the real thing - and this validates that claim. I've heard Sen. Cuccinelli talk about this before, and his work as a lawyer has exposed him to all sides of the mental health world, with all its problems. He was the one who best explained how Cho snuck through the cracks. Dems want everyone to think that Ken is some right-wing wackjob, but the fact is that he is a real leader and he doesn't have to say it over and over like Commrade Oleszek does to prove it. On issues as important as this, it speaks volumes to Cuccinelli's abilities that he is asked to help in an area so critical to Virginia, especially now.

(originally posted at my blog)