Attorney Michelle Cruz shares her opinions on the GAL system as follows:
"Recently, criticism of the state's guardians ad litem have hit an all-time high. GALs are reportedly withdrawing from their cases left and right, while grievances appear to be mounting. Family court, by definition, is charged with high emotions and children, unfortunately, are at the center of the storm. The GAL is supposed to be a beacon in the dark night, illuminating a path so a child can endure the tumultuous waters of a divorce or custody battle.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
This very issue came up the other day while I camped out in court, waiting for a hearing. I heard a family court judge explaining to countless divorcing couples, unable to come to an agreement over custody and visitation of their children, about the limitations of a guardian ad litem. The judge explained that the best person to decide the child's future is often their parent. The parents, in most cases, understand their children and, if they can come to an agreement, are the most qualified to make these life-altering decisions.
The judge went on to caution the couples marching through the courtroom that a GAL is an outsider — a third party — coming in to assess, investigate and make recommendations for the couple's children. Even though they attempt to do the right thing, the judge said, the GAL is still an outsider looking in."
For more on this topic, please click on the link below:
http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202651364859/Opinion%3A-Better-Oversight-Needed-For-Guardians-Ad-Litem#ixzz2z4o25a4k
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