Opinion ID: 781704
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Compulsion Test

Text: 18 The compulsion test considers whether the coercive influence or significant encouragement of the state effectively converts a private action into a government action. See generally Sutton, 192 F.3d at 836-37 (canvassing applications of the compulsion test involving the actions of private parties required under law or regulation). Again, the guardian functions independently of the court, exercising advocacy obligations that are, by law, to the child, not the court. Thus it makes no sense to say that the guardian is under such government compulsion that she acts on behalf of the state. And again, although the guardian's investigatory and reporting function is performed pursuant to law, the amendments discussed above clarify that this role is independent of court edict or oversight. In this respect, the guardian, although a reporter of facts, functions as a witness.