Joni Mitchell may be released from the hospital soon but still cannot confer with doctors about her medical care or long-term treatment, an attorney told a judge on Monday according to the Associated Press. The assessment by attorney Alan Watenmaker led a judge to place the singer-songwriter’s friend of 40 years, Leslie Morris, as the singer’s conservator.

Morris will now be able to confer with doctors and make decisions about Mitchell’s treatment when she leaves her LA hospital. The 71-year old has been hospitalized since March 31 for undisclosed reasons.