PORTLAND, Maine -- People seeking reforms to the guardian ad litem program in the state court system expressed their concerns Thursday in a meeting with Leigh Saufley, chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Many of the 50 or so people who attended the meeting had experience with the program during their divorce proceedings. Others at the event, which was structured like a hearing before a legislative committee, were lawyers who work as guardians ad litem.
BANGOR, Maine -- A group seeking reform of the guardian ad litem program in the Maine court system on Tuesday sent a 17-page report outlining problems from the perspective of consumers to Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley. A copy of the report, titled "The Bad Sport Report on GAL Reform" also was emailed to the Bangor Daily News. Paul D. Collins of Rockland, who claimed affiliation with a group called Maine Guardian ad litem Alert, along with others, authored the report.
The 23rd Judicial Circuit is seeking attorneys to serve as guardians ad litem for children in juvenile cases. Ten attorneys will be appointed with compensation of $1,500 per month. A guardian ad litem is appointed in divorce cases or in parenting time disputes to represent the interests of minor children. One might also be appointed in cases where there has been an allegation of child abuse, child neglect, or juvenile delinquency.
The state's Eastern District Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 26 that divorcing parents are not responsible for attorney's fees for a guardian ad litem's work in the appeals phase of their dissolution. Attorney Christine Miller Hendrix had asked the trial court to award her fees for work on an appeal in the divorce case of Karen M. Brown and Anthony T. Brown. That court, St. Charles County Circuit Court, agreed and assessed the parents the fee. The appeals court, though, ruled that the attorney was overstepping her authority by filing the brief in the first place.
How can courts ensure that guardians ad litem are paid enough to attract qualified people? What exactly are the duties of a guardian ad litem? What's an acceptable caseload? These are just a few of the questions a Missouri Supreme Court committee is tackling as it reviews the state's standards for those appointed to represent children's interests in family and juvenile court matters.
Permanent custody; substance abuse; reactive attachment disorder; guardian ad litem; attorney; dual role; repeatedly and consistently; child's wishes; report of guardian ad litem.
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