Guardian ad Litems

Tonight I am going to voice an opinion about other attorneys.  I'm talking about attorneys that have been appointed as guardian ad litems (GALs) to represent children in divorce, custody, juvenile, or probate cases.  The way some of these GALs represent the children, or rather do not represent the children, bothers me.  Let me give an example of what bothers me.  Recently I received a call from a father whose daughter was in trouble with the Juvenile Office for skipping school and classes and a few minor items.  There was to be  a hearing the next afternoon to determine whether the daughter stayed with him or left the state with her mother.  Since the father called right when I was leaving the office for another appointment I had to meet with him the next morning.  Normally I do not take cases on such short notice but I did not like what I was hearing.  I met with the father and it was agreed that we would try to get a continuance on the hearing and, if that was not possible, I would do my best with the little information he had and the evidence that was presented in court.    At the hearing the continuance was denied so we went forth with what we had.  The hearing turned out well for my client and his daughter but I left the hearing disturbed by the GAL.  This GAL had never spoken with my client or the daughter (the one the GAL was appointed to represent), never asked a question at the hearing, and yet she recommended to the court that it follow the Juvenile Office's recommendation.  I am disturbed by this because this GAL did not do her duties to the child and should not have been making any recommendations to the court.  If this had been the one and only time I have seen this happen, maybe it would not have bothered me so much.  It was not the first time and it is becoming more and more the norm from what I am seeing.  I would like to see something done to remove these GALs that do not do their duties and to get more attorneys to do what they have been appointed to do.

I approached this subject on a list serve that I belong to.  Turns out that other attorneys have noticed the problem with the GALs and they made several suggestions to try to combat the problem.  Some, however, pointed out that the GALs do not make much money and perhaps we shouldn't expect that much from them.  To this I say - bull-hockey!  I have been in practice for almost 17 years and I have been appointed GAL in just about every type of case that there is need for one.  I have lost tons of money from not being paid for the time I have put into a case or from not receiving an hourly rate from the court that equals my usual rate.  Do I think this excuses me from my duty to a child to independently investigate the matter and report to the court what I think will be in the best interests of the child?  Not on any day of the week.  My duty is to that child and if I can't do what needs to be done to make a well-informed, knowledgeable report to the court, then I do not need to be representing that child.  Who needs my knowledge and skills as a lawyer more than a child?  Who needs to be protected more than a child?  I may lose money on being appointed as a GAL, but if I do my duty to that child and investigate the matter, then I will sleep well at night knowing I did what I could to keep that child protected from whatever evils caused a GAL to be appointed.

I was discussing the case I mentioned earlier with another attorney.  This attorney does a lot of GAL work.  In fact that is about all the attorney does.  I made mention that the GAL in this case had never talked to the dad or even to the daughter whom the GAL was appointed to represent.  This attorney told me he/she does not normally talk to the child or the parents unless they show up at meetings at the juvenile office or child services  that the attorney is scheduled to  attend.    I guess if there are no meetings scheduled the attorney does not speak with them.  Where is the independent investigation in this?  All the attorney is hearing is one side.  Do I want this attorney to be the GAL in one of my cases?  A definite no.  It's my understanding that this attorney makes money by being appointed to several cases that will be heard on one day, kind of like a cattle call.  If this attorney does not independently investigate the matters and shows up for the hearings to make the recommendation to the court, I'd call that easy money.

So what do we do to change the way these GALs represent the child?  For one, start disqualifying the ones that do not do their duties to the child.  If you are represented by counsel your attorney should have a general knowledge of the attorneys that make good GALs and the ones that do not.  If an attorney has been appointed as a GAL in your case and you or your attorney know that this attorney will not do his or her duties, disqualify that attorney.  Each party has the right to one automatic disqualification of a GAL if done within ten days of the appointment.  After that you will need to disqualify the GAL for cause, including the GAL not doing his or her duty to the child. 

What are these duties that I have been discussing?  The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, had this to say about GALs and the duties involved:

Davis v. Schmidt, 210 S.W.3d 494 (Mo.App.W.D. 2007) :

Allocation of Guardian Ad Litem Fees to the Parties
[19] As stated supra, because Father made allegations that Mother had abused and neglected Emma, the trial court appointed attorney Brad Grill FN13 as Emma's guardian ad litem pursuant to section 452.423.2, RSMo Cum.Supp.2004. “The philosophy underlying the statute is that where abuse or neglect is alleged, the child has rights independent of either of the parents, and these rights are entitled to representation.” Taylor v. Taylor, 60 S.W.3d 652, 655 (Mo.App. E.D.2001) (emphasis added).

FN13. Mr. Grill filed a motion to be added as a party to this cause on appeal, which this court sustained on June 27, 2005.

[20] [21] [22] [23] [24] “The role of the guardian ad litem involves more than perfunctory and shadowy duties.” In the Interest of J.L.H., 647 S.W.2d 852, 861 (Mo.App. W.D.1983). Rather, a guardian ad litem serves as “the legal representative of the child at the hearing, and may examine, cross-examine, subpoena witnesses and offer testimony.” Section 452.423.3(1), RSMo Cum.Supp.2004 (emphasis added). “The guardian ad litem also has a duty to conduct all necessary interviews with people having knowledge or contact with the child, and he may interview the child if appropriate.” Baumgart v. Baumgart, 944 S.W.2d 572, 578-79 (Mo.App. W.D.1997); see also Section 452.423.3(2), RSMo Cum.Supp.2004. A guardian ad litem's principal allegiance is to the court, and his function is to advocate what he believes to be the best interests of the child by providing the court requisite information bearing on those interests untainted by the parochial interests of the child's parents. Guier v. Guier, 918 S.W.2d 940, 950 (Mo.App. W.D.1996); In re Marriage of Patroske, 888 S.W.2d 374, 384-85 (Mo.App. S.D.1994). “Even though the court is not bound by the opinion or recommendation of the GAL, it is imperative that the guardian ad litem investigate and have input on the perspective of the child's best interest and [that] this be presented to the trial judge.” Portwood-Hurt v. Hurt, 988 S.W.2d 613, 619 (Mo.App. W.D.1999) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In fact, given the nature of Father's multiple allegations of abuse and neglect and the extensive testimonial, documentary, photographic, and videographic evidence he adduced at trial to support them, “this case begged for careful consideration by the appointed guardian ad litem.” Keling v. Keling, 155 S.W.3d 830, 834 (Mo.App. E.D.2005).

Despite this, the record demonstrates that the trial court received no meaningful evidence from the guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem was concerned enough about the situation that he moved to intervene as a party to this appeal. He has also filed with this court a report he prepared concerning the allegations below, but we are unable to consider it because it was not presented to the trial court. Despite the fact that the guardian ad litem has the statutory right, under section 452.423.3(1), RSMo Cum.Supp.2004, to offer trial testimony as the legal representative*510 of the child, the record reveals that the trial court never heard from Mr. Grill about the abuse and neglect issues in the case except for only a few minutes just before the close of all the evidence.FN14

FN14. Mr. Grill used the “couple minutes” he was allotted by the trial court to briefly outline the services he had performed as Emma's guardian ad litem, as well as to inform the court as to the number of hours he had spent working on the case (32) and his normal hourly rate for such services ($150).

The only specific factual findings the trial court actually made in this case directly supported Father's claims of neglect. The trial court expressly found that Mother “has in her home 2 dogs that are incontinent and cause a health hazard.” This finding, as well as the court's judgment ordering Mother to remove both dogs from her home and further providing that they “may no longer be permitted inside the home whatsoever,” were supported by extensive and entirely unrebutted testimonial, video, and photographic evidence presented by Father at trial, which showed, among many other things, that: (1) the hair of Mother's two large breed dogs was matted with urine and fecal matter; (2) there were animal urine stains and acid burns located throughout Mother's home, including around Emma's diaper hamper and on other items in her bedroom; (3) Mother's home smelled strongly of animal urine and feces; and (4) there were clumps of dog hair and dander on the floors throughout Mother's home. Furthermore, the Chief Deputy Juvenile Officer for Platte County, Mark Lindsay, who had been appointed by the court to evaluate custody issues, testified at trial that had Mother's home been as depicted in the photographs when he made his home visit in April or May 2004, he would have been required, as a mandatory reporter of abuse and neglect, to make a call to the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline. Mr. Lindsay further testified he had serious concerns about the unsanitary conditions in Mother's home, specifically including animals urinating and defecating on the floor and the presence of animal hair and dander on the floor. The trial court also found that a home inspection conducted by Father's witness, civil engineer Frank Comer, on January 11, 2005, revealed that “certain natural gas lines in [Mother's] home are made of copper and that an electrical line located in the kitchen was not enclosed in conduit,” thereby presenting additional safety hazards. For this reason, the court's judgment required Mother to repair and/or remedy these hazardous conditions by replacing “any current gas lines made of copper in her home with black pipe or other building code compliant material,” as well as to “place in a proper electrical conduit the ... kitchen electrical power line or cord.”

On remand the trial court shall reopen the record and receive substantive evidence from Mr. Grill before rendering its new judgment. See Tipton v. Joseph-Tipton, 173 S.W.3d 692, 694 (Mo.App. W.D.2005); In re Marriage of Mihalovich, 659 S.W.2d 798, 801 (Mo.App. W.D.1983); Hughes v. Bd. of Educ., 599 S.W.2d 254, 256 (Mo.App. S.D.1980).

I think the quote above spells out the duties of GALs very well and much better than I could.  I'd like to thank my fellow attorney, Dan Pingleton, for providing the above quote to me.  Please note these duties and the next time you have a GAL that does not do his or her duties, move to disqualify him or her and request one that will.

What else can you do?  Complain to the presiding Judge in your circuit about the GALs that do not do their duties to the children they are appointed to represent.  After enough complaints the judges may start changing the way they appoint GALs or stop appointing the ones that are not performing their duties.  When you are complaining to the presiding Judge about a specific GAL or GALs in general, also mention in your letter or conversation that maybe the  court should increase the hourly rate or pay for GALs and set better guidelines for seeing that their fees are paid.  And, if you have been ordered by a court to pay a GAL in your case, please see that you do. 

I want to make it clear that not all GALs are bad.  They are some very good ones out there.  My office mate is one who takes his duties very seriously.  If you get one that you know has worked hard on the case to represent your child, no matter how the Judge rules in your case, thank the GAL and let him or her know that you appreciate all the hard work and time that was put into the case.  Remember, the GAL might be just as frustrated with the Judge's ruling as you are.  A thank you can go a long way.

Source:  my experience

Comments

[Laura Coon]

Need More Attorneys like you!
Our son has also gone through one nightmare after another. His first attorney was given proof of neglect on his 7 month old, asked if he should get a GAL, the attorney said no he wouldn't need it with every thing he had gathered over time. The judge in our small town is bias, and has a rep for doing the norm, which is leaving the children with the mom. My son asked for a continuance from the judge, he had found out in the court house lobby his attorney was going to agree with what ever the other side offered. The judge told him it was too late and do as his attorney told him.
He has another attorney we have heard nothing out of for the last 3+mo. seems like the same out come on the other end.
He has been given the file and more proof of neglect, yet nothing has come of it. He is now as broke as can be, we used our money, so we are broke and the only thing that we/him have paid for are two people. for that we could have thrown $6K+ into the wind and helped someone needy.
She (ex) should have had 14 contempt charges over the last 14 months, but nothing has happened to her. Our son had the last ruling dismissed from the court, this included the bogus child support ruling. Yet because the judge hasn't gotten around to signing the paper in over 4 months, he is looking at jail time, if he can't come up with the rediculous amount in the next couple of weeks. Not to mention he paid child support to the first attorney, has receipts, and I guess the guy has decided to keep it, cuz we keep calling and he keeps blowing us off.
Truly may your work be blessed, there just aren't enough of you guys out there.
God Bless the attorneys who really care.

[Michelle Green]

God bless you! Where are all of the attorney's in Missouri like you who actually CARE about the welfare and well-being of the children above and beyond the almighty dollar? Unfortunately, they're few and far between.

My son is acting pro se in his quest for custody against a pro bono attorney that is assisting the mother in keeping the children in an abusive and dangerous living situation. He was thinking that by requesting that the court appoint a GAL, at least his kids would be represented and heard. Well, that didn't happen during the ex parte hearing. The GAL never even MET the kids, only interviewed the parents 10 minutes before the hearing and then it was over and the ex parte was denied. So much for representation of the children.

Now he's preparing for the custody hearing and feels....no, KNOWS that he is his children's only hope of getting out of that situation. We can't even find a lawyer to COACH him in his efforts without paying thousands of dollars up front.

I commend him for his actions and his dedication to his children and pray the judge doesn't permit or, heaven forbid, ASSIST her attorney to overwhelm him for trying to do what's right. I wish I could at least stand next to him during the hearing for moral support.

God bless you and God help us all.