Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Law
A Law Guardian By The Same Name: A Response To Professor Guggenheim's Matrimonial Commission Critique, Merril Sobie
A Law Guardian By The Same Name: A Response To Professor Guggenheim's Matrimonial Commission Critique, Merril Sobie
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
I commence this article with a discussion of the statutory provisions governing the appointment and responsibilities of attorneys who represent children in New York. Part II briefly outlines the chronological implementation from initial enactment through the Matrimonial Commission Report, a period spanning forty-five years. Parts III and IV explore the specific nature of child custody representation and the relationship between the attorney and the child client during the course of a frequently lengthy proceeding. Last, the Commission's conclusions and recommendations are critiqued in Parts V and VI.
The Child Client: Representing Children In Child Protective Proceedings, Merril Sobie
The Child Client: Representing Children In Child Protective Proceedings, Merril Sobie
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
Part I of this article outlines the historical context and addresses the child's right to legal representation. Part II discusses the child's legal status by defining the specific legal interests, her procedural rights as a party to the litigation, the right to choose counsel, and the child's right to be involved as a participant. The penultimate Part analyzes the role of the child's counsel, including an outline of the relevant statutes, the diametrically opposed positions of state legislatures and the organized bar, and the hopelessly conflicting contemporary case law. The final Part addresses the fundamental deficiencies of the “best interests” …
Second Hand Smoke And Child Custody Determinations--A Relevant Factor Or A Smoke Screen?, Merril Sobie
Second Hand Smoke And Child Custody Determinations--A Relevant Factor Or A Smoke Screen?, Merril Sobie
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
The thesis of this brief article is simply that the tobacco habits of a parent are relevant and worthy of consideration when a child is asthmatic, or suffers from some other definable medical condition which would be exacerbated by passive smoke. However, when the child is healthy and there exists no definitive short-term medical risk, the issue should be irrelevant. In other words, the court should consider those factors, and only those factors, which are of significant importance to the child, such as stability, caretaker skills, home environment and the child's wishes. Concededly, second-hand smoke is harmful even to a …
Whatever Happened To The "Best Interests" Analysis In New York Relocation Cases? A Response, Merril Sobie
Whatever Happened To The "Best Interests" Analysis In New York Relocation Cases? A Response, Merril Sobie
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
This response to Justice Sondra Miller’s article will first discuss the competing interests and expectations of the parties to a relocation dispute, and briefly outline the national view or views. In fact, there is no national standard, or anything approaching a consensus among the states. The New York experience under the exceptional circumstances standard will then be analyzed and appraised. My conclusion is that the standard should be maintained, although I believe that the Court of Appeals should revisit the issue to clarify the factors and criteria relevant to a determination.