Law Commons^™

Judicial Discretion Is Insufficient: Minors' Due Process Right To Participate With Counsel When Divorce Custody Disputes Involve Allegations Of Child Abuse, David Peterson

Golden Gate University Law Review

This comment will illustrate how allegations of child abuse in a divorce custody dispute dramatically alter the presumption that the child's interests are well represented. Therefore, appointment of counsel for the child becomes necessary. The author first summarizes current state laws which address this issue and discusses the factors which cause discretionary appointment to fail. Next, the author demonstrates the trend of appellate court decisions and state laws toward mandatory appointment of counsel when abuse is alleged. The author then argues that mandatory appointment is necessitated by due process balancing of the child's and the government's interest. Finally, the author …

Failure To Protect From Domestic Violence In Private Custody Contests, Leslie J. Harris

Leslie J. Harris

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require courts to consider domestic violence committed by one parent against the other in resolving a custody or visitation dispute between the parents. A significant number of states also have statutes or case law that requires courts to consider the occurrence of violence in a child’s household or proposed household in resolving such disputes, regardless of who commits the violence or at whom it is directed. This kind of law may be used against a parent, often a victim, who fails to protect a child from being exposed to the violence. This …

Child Custody Modification Law: The Never-Ending Battle For Peace Of Mind, Brianna F. Isserdutt

Nevada Law Journal

Ellis v. Carucci represents an evolution in Nevada’s child custody laws that should continue. Before Ellis, Nevada courts modified custody arrangements without explicitly considering the best interests of the child. Ellis cemented the legislative intent behind Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) § 125.4803 to make the child’s best interest the focus of the judge’s decision in custody cases.

However, Ellis and NRS §125.480 are not enough to accomplish this overarching goal. The Nevada legislature should revise NRS § 125.480 so that the statute explicitly recognizes the instability and adjustments that children of divorce must endure. The statute should also be revised …

A Hidden Crisis: The Need To Strengthen Representation Of Parents In Child Protective Proceedings, Vivek Sankaran

Articles

A national consensus is emerging that zealous legal representation of parents is crucial in ensuring that the child welfare system produces just outcomes for children. National groups, inclucing the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and the National Association of Counsel for Children, have been outspoken on the need to strengthen legal advocacy on behalf of parents, and a number of states-including Colorado, Connecticut,' and Washington7 have initiated efforts to comprehensively reform their systems of appointing lawyers for indigent parents to better serve families. A national movement is afoot …