Karen Owen Talley, Esq., is currently the Director of Mental Health Appeals for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, which is the public defender office for Massachusetts. The Mental Health Litigation Division of CPCS provides counsel to indigent adults facing involuntary civil commitment, involuntary treatment and guardianship. During her tenure at CPCS, Attorney Talley has been a staff attorney, trial panel director, training director, appeals director, assistant director of the Division and interim director for the Division. She has practiced mental health law exclusively for thirty years. Prior to working at CPCS, Attorney Talley worked at the Disability Law Center and the Center for Public Representation, representing clients facing abuse and neglect in facilities and discrimination in the community. She is the author of several articles and chapters relating to the rights of individuals with mental disabilities. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics such as the role of counsel in representing persons with mental disabilities, ending segregated confinement of mentally ill prisoners and restraint reduction in mental health facilities. Attorney Talley was an adjunct professor in New York Law School’s Online Mental Disability Law program for 8 years until the program ended and was an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School for 8 years, where she taught Mental Health Law. Notable cases in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court include Foss v. Commonwealth, 437 Mass. 584 (2001); Matter of N.L., 476 Mass. 71 (2017); Guardianship of D.C., 479 Mass. 516 (2018); Massachusetts General Hospital v. C.R., 484 Mass. 472 (2020); Matter of a Minor, 484 Mass. 295 (2020) (amicus); K.J. v. Superintendent of Bridgewater State Hospital, 488 Mass. 362 (2021).

im O’Day was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts and attended Worcester Academy and Worcester State College. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science, with a specialization in Urban Studies and Management. After college, Jim served as a social worker for the Department of Social Services (now Department of Children and Families), serving families in central Massachusetts for over twenty-four years. In 2007, Jim ran in a special election for an open seat in the 14th Worcester District (composed of the town of West Boylston and parts of Worcester) in a hotly contested race. He went on to win the election in April 2007 and was sworn into the House of Representatives in May of 2007. Representative O’Day currently serves as the First Division Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He is also a member of the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling and the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting. Previously, Representative O'Day served as the chairman of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs and the chairman of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. He is also an active member of the Central Massachusetts Labor Council. Representative O’Day recognizes the important role that government plays in every community and the many different services that are provided to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. In addition, Representative O’Day is a Licensed Social Worker and has extensive experience in education and group counseling at a treatment facility in central Massachusetts. Jim currently serves on the Advisory Board for Rockdale Recovery High School and is an active and vocal advocate for the recovery community. Jim has lived in West Boylston for over twenty years with his wife Marybeth Murphy O’Day. He is the proud father of four sons and was very involved with youth, especially through coaching youth sports. He has conducted voter registration drives in high schools at the West Boylston High School and throughout Worcester. Jim is also a member of the West Boylston Democratic Town Committee, the Worcester Tree Initiative and an Honorary Member of the Worcester Ward 3 Democratic City Committee. Additionally, he currently serves as an Incorporator with Children's Friend and regularly attends Worcester neighborhood safety meetings. Through his extensive involvement, Jim is proud to be an easily accessible and deeply committed member of his community.

Jo has served the people of western Massachusetts long before she took public office in January 2019, elected to serve the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district in the Massachusetts State Senate. She is the first woman to hold the seat. Her district comprises 25 cities and towns stretching from Northampton to Ashburnham, encompassing the Connecticut River in Hampshire and Franklin Counties and nearly circling the entire Quabbin Reservoir. Jo has previously chaired the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on COVID-19, Emergency Preparedness and Management. She currently is the Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, while also serving as Vice Chair of Senate Ways and Means and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. Jo is also a Senate co-chair of the Food System Caucus.

Rick Glassman was the Director of Advocacy at the Disability Law Center from February 2014 until his retirement at the end of 2024. He also served as DLC’s Director of Litigation from April 2006 until February 2014. Rick's legal career has spanned over 40 years of practice in the areas of poverty law, civil rights and disability justice. Prior to arriving at DLC, Rick served for 5 years as the Managing Attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau at Harvard Law School. He also worked for 16 years as a legal services attorney, with an active litigation practice in state and federal courts. In his recent years at DLC, Rick focused on legislative and administrative advocacy, and public policy, with additional time devoted to abuse and neglect monitoring and investigations, public reports, supervising attorneys and advocates, mentoring law students, and work on publications and training events. Over 18+ years, while partnering with colleagues inside and outside of DLC, community members, and community organizations, Rick was able to make meaningful inroads in addressing compelling issues affecting our community. These include • Abuse and neglect in congregate settings • Community integration and community living • Housing discrimination and housing policy • Long term services and supports • Adult services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities • Human rights of people with mental health diagnoses • Access to public accommodations • Access to assistive technology • Wage and hour issues on behalf of subminimum wage workers with disabilities • Advocacy for meaningful, integrated day programs • Rights of prisoners with psychiatric disabilities; and • Restraint and seclusion of children in schools. Rick is a 1981 graduate of Colgate University, magna cum laude, and received his J.D. in 1984 from Northeastern University School of Law.

Nelson Mullins has a commitment to support individuals with disabilities, and has a legacy of taking on large-scale litigation matters to promote the well-being of disadvantaged classes, including those with disabilities. Legacy of Litigation: They have a legacy of taking on large-scale litigation matters to promote the well-being of disadvantaged classes of individuals, including those with disabilities. Focus on Special Education and Disability: Nelson Mullins provides counsel for clients across the spectrum of matters, including special education and disability issues. Landmark Cases: Nelson Mullins has been involved in landmark cases that protected the rights of people with disabilities, such as the case regarding ADA protections for disabled travelers on ships in U.S. waters. Serving the Underserved: Nelson Mullins has a history of working with organizations that are offering affordable and independent housing for adults with cognitive and physical disabilities.