LIMITATIONSOFTHEGUARDIANSADLITEM
REPORTSANDTESTIMONYANDTHE
JUDGE’SINDEPENDENTDETERMINATION
H.MartinHuddleston
H.MartinHuddleston,P.C.
Decatur,Georgia
AMERICANACADEMYOFMATRIMONIALLAWYERS
ANNUALFAMILYLAWSEMINAR
1
LIMITATIONSOFTHEGUARDIANSADLITEM
ReportsandtestimonyandtheJudge’sIndependentDetermination
H.MartinHuddleston
H.MartinHuddleston,P.C.
Decatur,Georgia
AreguardiansadlitemundulylimitedbycourtpracticesandtheUniform
Rules?UniformSuperiorCourtRule24.9regardingtheappointment,
qualificationsandroleofguardiansadlitemwasadoptedonMay19,2005.The
Rule,acopyofwhichisattachedtothispaper,resolvedoratleastgavedirection
tomanyconcernsthathadbeenoftenarguedbeforeitsadoption.Forexample:
Istheguardiananexpert?
Istheguardian’sreport“evidence”?
Towhatextentshouldtheguardianparticipateattrial?
Cantheguardianquestionwitnesses?
Cantheguardiancallwitnessesandpresentevidence?
Oftheguardiansconsultedinthepreparationofthispaper,allfeltthat,
withfewexceptions,theyareappreciatedbytheCourtandthattheCourt
respectstheiropinions.AlloftheguardianswouldpreferfortheCourttoread
theirreportspriortothetrial.Mostwouldprefertoremainincourtthroughout
thetrial,pointingoutthataguardian’sappointmentcontinues“untilfinal
dispositionofallmatterspertainingtochildcustody,visitationandchild-related
issues.”[USCR24.9(3)]AlloftheguardiansfeltthatJudgesmakeindependent
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decisionsaftertakingtheguardians’reportsandopinionsintoconsideration,
alongwithotherevidence.Noneoftheguardiansexpressedanydesiretolimit
theindependenceoftheCourt.
ThetrendsincetheadoptionofUSCR24.9,isfortheguardiantotestify
first.However,severaloftheguardiansconsultedwouldprefertotestifylast,
afterallotherevidencehasbeenheard.Experiencevariedamongtheguardians
astowhethertheyarepermittedtoremainincourtduringthetrial.Themajority
reportedthattheyarenolongerabletoquestionwitnesses,andmostagreedthat
theywerelimitedorrestrictedby“…notbeingallowedtoquestion
witnesses…absentexceptionalcircumstancesanduponexpressapprovalofthe
Court.”[USCR24.9(7)]
TheneedforGuardiansadLitemevolvedfromtherealizationthatwhat
wasinaparent’sbestinterestwasnotnecessarilyinthebestinterestsofthe
child.USCR24.9(3)addressesthatconcernbyprovidingthat:
TheGALshallrepresentthebestinterestsofthechild.TheGALisan
officerofthecourtandshallassistthecourtandthepartiesinreachinga
decisionregardingchildcustody,visitationandchild-relatedissues.Should
theissueofchildcustodyand/orvisitationbetried,theGALshallbe
availabletooffertestimonyinaccordancewithprovisions6and7herein.
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Mostguardianshaveexperiencedsituationswhentheattorneysforthe
partiesfailedtocallanessentialwitnessorfailedtoquestionawitness
regardinganimportantissue.Iftheguardianistorepresentthebestinterests
ofthechild,thenthelossoftherighttopresentevidenceandquestion
witnessescansignificantlyimpactthequalityoftheirrepresentation.Some
guardiansaddresstheselimitationsbyaskingoneoftheparties’attorneysto
callorquestionthewitness,butothersviewthatapproachascompromising
theguardian’straditionalstanceofimpartialityasregardstheparties.
Whateverthecase,askinganotherattorneytoconductyourexaminationisnot
thesameasdoingityourself.
USCR24.9(8)(b)allowstheguardiantofilemotionsandpleadingsto
protestthebestinterestsofthechild,andinthatregard,theguardianhasthe
righttofilediscoveryrequestsandservesubpoenas.Subpoenasanddiscovery
requestsexistfornopurposeotherthantheproductionofdocumentsand
informationforuseattrial,butRule24.9(8)(b)doesnotexplainhowthe
evidencewillbepresentediftheguardiancannotquestionwitnesses.Asa
practicalmatter,instanceswheretheguardianfounditnecessarytofilea
motionarerareandinthosecases,theCourtallowedtheguardiantopresent
themotion.Nonetheless,apotentialconflictexistsbetweentheguardians’
righttoparticipateaslitigantswithregardtomotionsandpleadingsandthe
restrictionsimposedbyUSCR24.9(7).
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Theextenttowhichlimitationsuponguardiansadlitemexistmay
dependuponhowoneviewstheirroleintheprocess.TheUniformRules
describetheguardianasbothanexpertwitnessandanadvocaterepresenting
thebestinterestsofachild.Intheroleofanexpertwitness,theguardianfaces
fewerlimitationsthanotherexperts.Intheroleofrepresentingthechild’s
bestinterests,theguardianmayfacegreaterlimitationsthanotheradvocates,
dependinguponthediscretionoftheCourt.
MythankstoDawndeKlerk,LoisShingler,SusanHurst,DianeWoods,
MelodyRichardson,MaryBethHebertandDebraGoldfortheircontributions
tothispresentation.
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Rule24.9
GeorgiaRules
UNIFORMRULESOFTHESUPERIORCOURT
RULE24.DOMESTICRELATIONS
Rule24.9Appointment,QualificationandRoleofaGuardianadLitem.
Rule24.9.Appointment,QualificationandRoleofaGuardianad
Litem.
1.Appointment
TheGuardianadLitem("GAL")isappointedtoassistinadomestic
relationscasebythesuperiorcourtjudgeassignedtohearthatparticularcase,or
otherwisehavingtheresponsibilitytohearsuchcase.Theappointingjudgehas
thediscretiontoappointanypersonasaGALsolongasthepersonsoselected
hasbeentrainedasaGALorisotherwisefamiliarwiththerole,duties,and
responsibilitiesasdeterminedbythejudge.TheGALmaybeselectedthroughan
intermediary.
2.Qualifications
AGALshallreceivesuchtrainingasprovidedbyorapprovedbythe
CircuitinwhichtheGALserves.Thistrainingshouldinclude,butnotbelimited
to,instructioninthefollowingsubjects:domesticrelationslawandprocedure,
includingtheappropriatestandardtobeappliedinthecase;domesticrelations
courtroomprocedure;role,duties,andresponsibilitiesofaGAL;recognitionand
assessmentofachild'sbestinterests;methodsofperformingachild
custody/visitationinvestigation;methodsofobtainingrelevantinformation
concerningachild'sbestinterest;theethicalobligationsofaGAL,includingthe
relationshipbetweentheGALandcounsel,theGALandthechild,andtheGAL
andthecourt;recognitionofculturalandeconomicdiversityinfamiliesand
communities;basechilddevelopment,needs,andabilitiesatdifferentages;
interviewingtechniques;communicatingwithchildren;familydynamicsand
dysfunction,domesticviolenceandsubstanceabuse;recognitionofissuesof
childabuse;andavailableservicesforchildwelfare,familypreservation,medical,
mentalhealth,educational,andspecialneeds,including
placement/evaluation/diagnostictreatmentservices.
3.RoleandResponsibilities
TheGALshallrepresentthebestinterestsofthechild.TheGALisan
officerofthecourtandshallassistthecourtandthepartiesinreachingadecision
regardingchildcustody,visitationandchild-relatedissues.Shouldtheissueof
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childcustodyand/orvisitationbetried,theGALshallbeavailabletooffer
testimonyinaccordancewithprovision6and7herein.
TheGALholdsapositionoftrustwithrespecttotheminorchildatissue,and
mustexerciseduediligenceintheperformanceofhis/herduties.AGALshould
berespectfulof,andshouldbecomeeducatedconcerning,culturalandeconomic
diversityasmayberelevanttoassessingachild'sbestinterests.
AGAL'sappointment,unlessorderedotherwisebytheCourtforaspecific
designatedperiod,terminatesuponfinaldispositionofallmatterspertainingto
childcustody,visitationandchild-relatedissues.TheGALshallhavethe
authoritytobringacontemptaction,orotherappropriateremedy,torecover
court-orderedfeesfortheGAL'sservices.
4.Duties
ByvirtueoftheorderappointingaGAL,aGALshallhavetherightto
inspectallrecordsrelatingtotheminorchildmaintainedbytheClerkofthe
Courtinthisandanyotherjurisdiction,othersocialandhumanserviceagencies,
theDepartmentofFamilyandChildrenServices,andtheJuvenileCourt.Upon
writtenreleaseand/orwaiverbyapartyorappropriatecourtorder,theGALshall
havetherighttoexamineallrecordsmaintainedbyanyschool,financial
institution,hospital,doctororothermentalhealthprovider,anyothersocialor
humanservicesagencyorfinancialinstitutionpertainingtothechildwhichare
deemedconfidentialbytheserviceprovider.TheGALshallhavetherightto
examineanyresidencewhereinanypersonseekingcustodyorvisitationrights
proposestohousetheminorchild.TheGALmayrequestthecourttoorder
examinationofthechild,parentsoranyoneseekingcustodyofthechild,bya
medicalormentalhealthprofessional,ifappropriate.TheGALshallbeentitled
tonoticeof,andshallbeentitledtoparticipateinallhearings,trials,
investigations,depositions,settlementnegotiations,orotherproceedings
concerningthechild.
5.ReleasetoGALofaParty'sConfidentialInformationfromNon-Parties
AGAL'srighttorequestandreceivedocumentsandinformationfrom
mentalhealthprofessionals,counselors,andotherswithknowledgeofa
confidentialnatureconcerningapartyisconditionaluponthepartyagreeingto
signareleaseallowingtheGALaccesstosuchrecordsandinformation.
Uponreceiptofaparty'ssignedwaiver/releaseform,theGALshallhavetheright
toinspectallrecords,documentsandinformationrelatingtotheminor
child(ren)and/orthepartiesmaintainedbyanymentalhealthprofessionals,
counselorsandotherswithknowledgeofaconfidentialnatureconcerningaparty
orminorchild.
6.WrittenReport
Unlessotherwisedirectedbytheappointingjudge,theGALshallsubmitto
thepartiesorcounselandtotheCourtawrittenreportdetailingtheGAL's
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findingsandrecommendationsatsuchtimeasmaybedirectedbytheassigned
judge.Attrial,thereportshallbeadmittedintoevidencefordirectevidenceand
impeachmentpurposes,orforanyotherpurposesallowedbythelawsofthis
state.Thecourtwillconsiderthereport,includingtherecommendations,in
makingitsdecision.However,therecommendationsoftheGALarenota
substituteforthecourt'sindependentdiscretionandjudgment,noristhereport
asubstitutefortheGAL'sattendanceandtestimonyatthefinalhearing,unless
allpartiesotherwiseagree.
a.ContentsofReport
ThereportshallsummarizetheGAL'sinvestigation,includingidentifyingall
sourcestheGALcontactedorrelieduponinpreparingthereport.TheGALshall
offerrecommendationsconcerningchildcustody,visitation,andchild-related
issuesandthereasonssupportingthoserecommendations.
b.ReleaseofReporttoCounselandParties
TheReportshallbereleasedtocounsel(includingcounsel'sstaffandexperts)
andpartiesonly,andshallnotbefurtherdisseminatedunlessotherwiseordered
bytheCourt.
c.ReleaseofGAL'sFiletoCounsel
IforderedbytheCourt,thepartiesandtheircounselshallbeallowedtoreview
and/orcopy(andshallpaythecostofsame)thecontentsoftheGAL'sfile.
d.UnauthorizedDisseminationofGAL'sReportandContentsofFile
AnyunauthorizeddisseminationoftheGAL'sReport,itscontentsorthecontents
oftheGAL'sfilebyapartyorcounseltoanyperson,shallbesubjecttosanctions,
includingafindingofcontemptbytheCourt.
e.SealingofWrittenReport
Iffiled,theReportshallbefiledundersealbytheClerkofSuperiorCourtin
ordertopreservethesecurity,privacy,andbestinterestsofthechildrenatissue.
7.RoleatHearingandTrial
ItisexpectedthattheGALshallbecalledastheCourt'switnessattrialunless
otherwisedirectedbytheCourt.TheGALshallbesubjecttoexaminationbythe
partiesandthecourt.TheGALisqualifiedasanexpertwitnessonthebest
interestofthechild(ren)inquestion.TheGALmaytestifyastothefoundation
providedbywitnessesandsources,andtheresultsoftheGAL'sinvestigation,
includingarecommendationastowhatisinachild'sbestinterest.TheGALshall
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notbeallowedtoquestionwitnessesorpresentargument,absentexceptional
circumstancesanduponexpressapprovaloftheCourt.
8.GeneralandMiscellaneousProvisions
a.RequestingMentalFitnessandCustodyEvaluationsBaseduponthefactsand
circumstancesofthecase,aGALmayrequesttheCourttoorderthepartiesto
undergomentalfitnessand/orcustodyevaluationstobeperformedbya
mentalhealthexpertapprovedbytheCourt.TheCourtshallprovideforthe
parties'responsibilityforpaymentoffeestotheappointedexperts.
b.FilingMotionsandPleadings
Ifappropriate,theGALmayfilemotionsandpleadingsiftheGALdetermines
thatthefilingofsuchmotionorpleadingisnecessarytopreserve,promote,or
protectthebestinterestofachild.ThiswouldincludetheGAL'srighttofile
appropriatediscoveryrequestsandrequesttheissuanceofsubpoenas.Uponthe
filingofanysuchmotionsorpleadings,theGALshallpromptlyserveallparties
withcopiesofsuchfilings.
c.RighttoReceiveNoticeofMediations,HearingsandTrials
CounselshallnotifytheGALofthedateandtimeofallmediations,depositions,
hearingsandtrialsorotherproceedingsconcerningthechildren(ren).Counsel
shallservetheGALwithpropernoticeofalllegalproceedings,courtproceedings
whereinthechild(ren)'sinterestsareinvolvedandshallprovidetheGALwith
properandtimelywrittennoticeofallnon-courtproceedingsinvolvingthe
child(ren)'sinterests.
d.ApprovalofSettlementAgreements
IfthepartiesreachanAgreementconcerningissuesaffectingthebestinterestof
achild,theGALshallbesoinformedandshallhavetherightandopportunityto
makeobjectionstotheCourttoanyproposedsettlementofissuesrelatingtothe
childrenpriortotheCourtapprovingtheAgreement.
e.CommunicationsBetweenGALandCounsel
AGALmaycommunicatewithaparty'scounselwithoutincludingtheother
counselinthesameconversation,meetingor,ifbywriting,noticeofthe
communication.WhencommunicatingwiththeGAL,counselisnotrequiredto
notifyopposingcounselofthecommunicationor,ifinwriting,provideopposing
counselwithacopyofthecommunicationtotheGAL.
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f.ExParteCommunicationBetweenGALandtheCourt
TheGALshallnothaveexpartecommunicationswiththeCourtexceptin
mattersofemergencyconcerningthechild'swelfareorupontheconsentofthe
partiesorcounsel.UponmakingemergencyconcernsknowntotheCourt,the
GALmayrequestanimmediatehearingtoaddresstheemergency.Notification
shallbeprovidedimmediatelytothepartiesandcounselofthenatureofthe
emergencyandtimeofhearing.
g.PaymentofGALFeesandExpenses
ItshallbewithintheCourt'sdiscretiontodeterminetheamountoffeesawarded
totheGAL,andhowpaymentofthefeesshallbeapportionedbetweenthe
parties.TheGAL'srequestsforfeesshallbeconsidered,uponapplication
properlyserveduponthepartiesandafteranopportunitytobeheard,unless
waived.IntheeventtheGALdeterminesthatextensivetraveloutsideofthe
circuitinwhichtheGALisappointedorotherextraordinaryexpendituresare
necessary,theGALmaypetitiontheCourtinadvanceforpaymentofsuch
expensesbytheparties.
h.RemovalofGALfromtheCase
Uponmotionofeitherpartyoruponthecourt'sownmotion,thecourtmay
considerremovingtheGALfromthecaseforgoodcauseshown.
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