Monday, July 9, 2012

Critics worry about lack of oversight of court-appointed child advocates in Maine, urge reform

By Judy Harrison, BDN Staff
Posted June 01, 2012, at 11:02 a.m.   

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.

Guardians ad litem, or GALs, are appointed by judges “to represent the best interests of one or more children in legal proceedings for divorce, determination of parental rights and responsibilities, child protection and similar legal actions in Maine,” according to information on the court system’s website. Guardians ad litem may be lawyers or mental health professionals.

Full story: BangorDailyNews

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