The California Supreme Court declined to block the roll this week

from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping new plan to force people with serious mental illness into treatment, meaning the…

controversial

program

remains

on track to begin in several counties this fall.

Earlier this year

a coalition of disability and civil rights groups asked the state Supreme Court to strike down Newsom’s program, known as CARE Court (for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment), as unconstitutional, claiming it violated due process and equal protection rights .

Civil rights groups are filing a lawsuit to block Newsom’s plan to treat people with mental illness

The court denied the request on Wednesday without issuing an opinion.

Andy Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, one of the main organizations that filed the lawsuit, called the decision “disappointing.”

“It’s not surprising, but it’s frustrating,” he said. “There is a vulnerable population here whose rights seem irrelevant to these powerful political forces.”

Supporters of the CARE Court say it will revolutionize California’s approach to treating people with diagnosed psychotic disorder and addiction, many of whom are also homeless. Once the program is implemented, family members, behavioral therapy providers, and medical professionals, among others, can petition a judge to order an evaluation and, if warranted, create a treatment plan that may include medication and housing .

Newsom’s plan aims to bring hope to families of mentally ill, homeless Californians

The same groups that brought the lawsuit opposed CARE Court from the start, saying it would infringe on personal freedoms and argued that forced treatment is ineffective.

In a statement, Newsom said the ruling ensures that implementation of CARE Court will not be delayed and that the state remains

sed

on track to launch the program this fall. Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Glenn, and Tuolumne

C

you have until Oct. 1

from this year

to begin implementation, with Los Angeles County on track to join two months later. The rest of the state has until December 2024.

LA County is on track to join Newsom’s comprehensive mental health plan a year early

This ruling is of great significance to thousands of Californians and their families dealing with untreated serious mental illness and substance use disorders,” Newsom said. partners committed to executing this transformative initiative in communities across California.”

The Supreme Court’s choice not to intervene could complicate future legal challenges for the program, as it is the highest court in the state and lower courts will be aware of the decision. Imparato acknowledged

that the lawsuit will go directly to the state Supreme Court

was a “creative”, if “unlikely” legal strategy,

and said his coalition will continue to look for other ways to block the program

.

It will closely monitor the role of CARE Court

out of this case, Imparato said, and consider taking legal action in court

S

on a case-by-case basis on behalf of individuals in the program.

“We will look at options to prevent bad things from happening and can definitely go back to court at that point,” Imparato said. “We have a lot of options.”