Clinical Sociologists as Guardians ad Litem
Main Article Content
Keywords
guardian ad litem, GAL, clinical sociology, courts, best interest of the child, child rights
Abstract
This article posits that clinical sociologists have ideal expertise to serve courts as a Guardian ad Litem. It explains what these court appointed representatives provide the court, their qualifications, and how they can advocate for the best interests of children in divorce, custody, shared-time, and other caregiving situations. Often decisions are made by judges with a adult-focused legal lens. Clinical sociologists have a background in both macro and micro issues that impact the wellbeing of children. They are able to contribute and integrate their scholarly and practical knowledge to make better informed decisions that the court can use. Common challenges that Guardian ad Litem face are identified, with insights on how clinical sociological expertise can overcome them.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect and Committee on Bioethics. (2000). Forgoing life-sustaining medical treatment in abused children. Pediatrics, 106(5), 1151-1153. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.5.1151
American Bar Association. (1998). Court allows suit against guardian. ABA Journal, 41.
Aneiros, A.N., & Prenkert, J.D. (2022). In the best interest of children: A proposal for corporate guardian ad litems. UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs, 26(2), 1-48.
Becker, Howard. (1967). Whose side are we on?. Social Problems, Volume 14, Issue 3, Winter 1967: 239–247. https://doi.org/10.2307/799147
Bilson, A., & White, S. (2005). Representing children’s views and best interests in court: An international comparison. Child Abuse Review, 14, 220-239. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.902
Boumil, M.M., Freitas, C.F., & Freitas, D.F. (2011). Legal and ethical issues confronting guardian ad litem practice. Journal of Law and Family Studies, 13(1).
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021a). CASAs and GALs. https://bit.ly/3uPRUSJ
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021b). Representation of children in child abuse and neglect proceedings. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes
Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M., & Colvin, M.L. (2019). A qualitative examination of recruitment and motivation to become a guardian ad litem in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 115-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.031
Crowe, K. (2018). Statutory provisions for guardians ad litem. American Bar Association. https://bit.ly/3RjnQX3.
Dane, E. M., & Rosen, J.A. (2016). View from the bench: Parental mental health and Child Custody. Family Court Review, 54(1),10-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12199
Davidson, H.A. (1981). The guardian ad litem: An important approach to the protection of children. Children Today, 10, 20-23.
Denzin, N. (1962). The Research Act. New York: Routledge.
Federle, K., & Gadomski, D. (2011). The curious case of the guardian ad litem. University of Dayton Law Review, 36(3), 337-352.
Fraser, B. G. (1977). Independent representation for the abused and neglected child: the guardian ad litem. California Western Law Review, 13(1), 16‑45.
Freeman, M. (2020). A New Magna Carta for Children. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316591468
Fritz, J. (2020). International Clinical Sociology. New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54584-0
Fritz, J. (1992). Creating successful communities. In R. Straus (Ed.). Using sociology: An introduction from the applied and clinical perspectives. General Hall: Bayside NY.
Gran. B. (2020). The Sociology of Child Rights. London: Polity. https://nationalcasagal.org/about-us/history/.
James, A., & Prout, A. (1997) Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary issues in the sociological study of childhood. London: Falmer Press.
Legal Dictionary. (2015). Guardian ad litem. https://legaldictionary.net/guardian-ad-litem/
Legal Information Institute. (2022). Ad litem. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ad_litem
Levy, R. (1991). A reminiscence about the uniform marriage and divorce act: Some reflections about its critics and its policies. Brigham Young University Law Review, 1, 43-77. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/faculty_articles/504.
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023a) Our history. https://nationalcasagal.org/about-us/history/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023b). Our reach. https://nationalcasagal.org /about-us/national-organization/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023c). Our work. https://nationalcasagal.org /our-work/the-casa-gal-model/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023d). State and local programs. https://nationalcasagal.org/our-work/programs/?ps=TX
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2023a). Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2023b). Status of ratification: Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations. https://indicators.ohchr.org/
Public Law. (1074). Statute review of public law 93-247. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-88/pdf/STATUTE-88-Pg4.pdf#page=1
Ray, E. C. (2021). A ward of the state: The First Amendment as protecting the best interest of the child in custody disputes. Kentucky Law Journal Online. http://www.kentuckylawjournal.org/online-originals/a-ward-of-the-state-the-first-amendment-as-protecting-the-best-interest-of-the-child-in-custody-disputes
Ruegger, M. (2001). Seen and heard but how well informed? Children’s perceptions of the Guardian ad Litem service. Children and Society, 15, 133-145. https://doi.org/10/1002/chi.623
Spotlight. (2002). Serving as both GAL and mediator.American Journal of Family Law, 16(3), 223. https://link-gale com.corvette.salemstate.edu/apps/doc/A92404633/AONE?u=mlin_n_state&sid=ebsco&xid=e6307759
Uniform Law Commission. (2023). Marriage and divorce act. https://bit.ly/46MUsOM
United States Courts (2022). Federal rules of civil procedure. https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/federal_rules_of_civil_procedure_december_1_2022_0.pdf
Vissing, Y. (2023). Children’s Human Rights in the US: Challenges and Opportunities. London: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30848-2
Vissing, Y. 2023. A clinical sociologist’s journey as child rights advocate. Clinical Sociology Review. Volume 17, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.36615/csr.v17i1.1299
Vissing, Y. (2018). Complexity in the determination of child abuse: A statistical and rights based approach using Type I and Type II error. Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development. Fall 2018. https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/jcred/vol32/iss1/3/
Whitcomb, D. (1988). Guardian ad litem in criminal courts. National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. https://bit.ly/3Nj0PCw
American Bar Association. (1998). Court allows suit against guardian. ABA Journal, 41.
Aneiros, A.N., & Prenkert, J.D. (2022). In the best interest of children: A proposal for corporate guardian ad litems. UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs, 26(2), 1-48.
Becker, Howard. (1967). Whose side are we on?. Social Problems, Volume 14, Issue 3, Winter 1967: 239–247. https://doi.org/10.2307/799147
Bilson, A., & White, S. (2005). Representing children’s views and best interests in court: An international comparison. Child Abuse Review, 14, 220-239. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.902
Boumil, M.M., Freitas, C.F., & Freitas, D.F. (2011). Legal and ethical issues confronting guardian ad litem practice. Journal of Law and Family Studies, 13(1).
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021a). CASAs and GALs. https://bit.ly/3uPRUSJ
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021b). Representation of children in child abuse and neglect proceedings. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes
Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M., & Colvin, M.L. (2019). A qualitative examination of recruitment and motivation to become a guardian ad litem in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 115-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.031
Crowe, K. (2018). Statutory provisions for guardians ad litem. American Bar Association. https://bit.ly/3RjnQX3.
Dane, E. M., & Rosen, J.A. (2016). View from the bench: Parental mental health and Child Custody. Family Court Review, 54(1),10-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12199
Davidson, H.A. (1981). The guardian ad litem: An important approach to the protection of children. Children Today, 10, 20-23.
Denzin, N. (1962). The Research Act. New York: Routledge.
Federle, K., & Gadomski, D. (2011). The curious case of the guardian ad litem. University of Dayton Law Review, 36(3), 337-352.
Fraser, B. G. (1977). Independent representation for the abused and neglected child: the guardian ad litem. California Western Law Review, 13(1), 16‑45.
Freeman, M. (2020). A New Magna Carta for Children. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316591468
Fritz, J. (2020). International Clinical Sociology. New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54584-0
Fritz, J. (1992). Creating successful communities. In R. Straus (Ed.). Using sociology: An introduction from the applied and clinical perspectives. General Hall: Bayside NY.
Gran. B. (2020). The Sociology of Child Rights. London: Polity. https://nationalcasagal.org/about-us/history/.
James, A., & Prout, A. (1997) Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary issues in the sociological study of childhood. London: Falmer Press.
Legal Dictionary. (2015). Guardian ad litem. https://legaldictionary.net/guardian-ad-litem/
Legal Information Institute. (2022). Ad litem. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ad_litem
Levy, R. (1991). A reminiscence about the uniform marriage and divorce act: Some reflections about its critics and its policies. Brigham Young University Law Review, 1, 43-77. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/faculty_articles/504.
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023a) Our history. https://nationalcasagal.org/about-us/history/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023b). Our reach. https://nationalcasagal.org /about-us/national-organization/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023c). Our work. https://nationalcasagal.org /our-work/the-casa-gal-model/
National CASA/GAL Association for Children. (2023d). State and local programs. https://nationalcasagal.org/our-work/programs/?ps=TX
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2023a). Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2023b). Status of ratification: Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations. https://indicators.ohchr.org/
Public Law. (1074). Statute review of public law 93-247. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-88/pdf/STATUTE-88-Pg4.pdf#page=1
Ray, E. C. (2021). A ward of the state: The First Amendment as protecting the best interest of the child in custody disputes. Kentucky Law Journal Online. http://www.kentuckylawjournal.org/online-originals/a-ward-of-the-state-the-first-amendment-as-protecting-the-best-interest-of-the-child-in-custody-disputes
Ruegger, M. (2001). Seen and heard but how well informed? Children’s perceptions of the Guardian ad Litem service. Children and Society, 15, 133-145. https://doi.org/10/1002/chi.623
Spotlight. (2002). Serving as both GAL and mediator.American Journal of Family Law, 16(3), 223. https://link-gale com.corvette.salemstate.edu/apps/doc/A92404633/AONE?u=mlin_n_state&sid=ebsco&xid=e6307759
Uniform Law Commission. (2023). Marriage and divorce act. https://bit.ly/46MUsOM
United States Courts (2022). Federal rules of civil procedure. https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/federal_rules_of_civil_procedure_december_1_2022_0.pdf
Vissing, Y. (2023). Children’s Human Rights in the US: Challenges and Opportunities. London: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30848-2
Vissing, Y. 2023. A clinical sociologist’s journey as child rights advocate. Clinical Sociology Review. Volume 17, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.36615/csr.v17i1.1299
Vissing, Y. (2018). Complexity in the determination of child abuse: A statistical and rights based approach using Type I and Type II error. Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development. Fall 2018. https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/jcred/vol32/iss1/3/
Whitcomb, D. (1988). Guardian ad litem in criminal courts. National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. https://bit.ly/3Nj0PCw
Article Sidebar
Published
Dec 13, 2023
Article Details
How to Cite
Clinical Sociologists as Guardians ad Litem. (2023). Clinical Sociology Review, 18(2), 102-131. https://doi.org/10.36615/csr.v18i2.2466
Issue
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Licensing information
Creative Commons CC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License
© Author(s)
How to Cite
Clinical Sociologists as Guardians ad Litem. (2023). Clinical Sociology Review, 18(2), 102-131. https://doi.org/10.36615/csr.v18i2.2466