Judge Sindependentdetermination

LIMITATIONSOFTHEGUARDIANSADLITEM

REPORTSANDTESTIMONYANDTHE

JUDGE’SINDEPENDENTDETERMINATION

H.MartinHuddleston

H.MartinHuddleston,P.C.

Decatur,Georgia

AMERICANACADEMYOFMATRIMONIALLAWYERS

ANNUALFAMILYLAWSEMINAR

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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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