Opinion ID: 430483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Appointment Practices

Text: 2 Since 1970, the D.C.Code has provided that in child neglect and parental termination proceedings 2 both parents and children must be provided with appointed counsel if the parents are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. The relevant statute reads: 3 (1) When a child is alleged to be neglected or when the termination of the parent and child relationship is under consideration, the parent, guardian or custodian of the child named in the petition or in a motion to terminate is entitled to be represented by counsel at all critical stages of the proceedings, and, if financially unable to obtain adequate representation, to have counsel appointed in accordance with rules established by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. 4 (2) ... The Division shall in every case involving a neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding, including the termination of the parent and child relationship ..., appoint a guardian ad litem who is an attorney to represent the child in such proceedings. 3 5 Until October 1, 1982, no funds were available to pay counsel appointed to represent indigent parents in neglect cases. 4 Since then, limited funds have been appropriated for this purpose. 5 Presently, counsel for both children and parents in neglect proceedings are paid $30 for each court appearance. Attorney compensation, however, is subject to the following limits: $100 per child-neglect case until disposition of the neglect petition; $60 for each review of a child-custody placement pursuant to a finding of neglect if the review is within two years of the original neglect disposition or if the child is under 6 years old; $30 for all other reviews; $100 for termination proceedings. Letter from the Honorable Gladys Kessler, supra note 4. No funds are provided for expert witnesses or investigative services. 6 Superior court rules implementing the statutory mandate that counsel be appointed to represent indigent parents provide: 7 Assignment of counsel shall be made by the Division from a list of attorneys prepared and maintained by the Division. Separate counsel shall be assigned to represent a child alleged to be neglected and his parents, guardian or custodian whenever they are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. In cases where the child and his parents, guardian or custodian are financially able to obtain adequate representation but have not retained counsel, the Division may appoint separate counsel and order the payment of reasonable attorneys' fees in accordance with SCR-Neglect 27 or may appoint counsel for the child and direct his parents, guardian or custodian to retain private counsel for themselves within a specified period of time. In making appointments the Division shall wherever possible obtain the same attorneys, if any, who represented the child and the child's parents, guardian or custodian in previous appearances before the Division. 8 D.C. S.C.R.-Neglect 20(b). In practice, counsel are appointed to represent indigent parents from a list of lawyers who, during the previous month, have requested assignments of juvenile delinquency cases for which compensation is provided under the District of Columbia's Criminal Justice Act (CJA). 6 This list is maintained by the D.C. Public Defender Service. 9 When an attorney registers for compensated CJA work in the Family Division, he is notified that he may be appointed to neglect cases on a pro bono publico basis. Affidavit of W. Anthony Fitch, Deputy Director of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (Oct. 20, 1982). The Public Defender Service and the judges of the superior court repeatedly warn attorneys that they will not be appointed to CJA-compensated cases if they do not also agree to represent indigent parents in neglect proceedings.