Opinion ID: 2581557
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: parenting evaluators and guardians ad litem

Text: Luby also contends that the trial court's use of parenting evaluators and guardians ad litem violate her right to due process. [4] Particularly, Luby argues that parenting evaluators and guardians ad litem act as de facto trial courts where parties are not afforded the protections inherent in an actual trial. Because participants are not placed under oath during interviews conducted by evaluators, Luby argues, the protections of truthfulness and reliability inherent in trial are not present. We hold Luby's right to due process was not violated by the trial court's use of Dr. Hedrick's evaluation or the guardian ad litem recommendation. [5] First, Luby received these reports well before the deadline provided by RCW 26.10.130(1), failed to object to the admission of these reports, and was given an opportunity to cross-examine Dr. Hedrick and the guardian ad litem at trial. Second, the trial court did not consider these reports in a vacuum, but as part of an extended trial during which it heard testimony from all the parties and 12 witnesses, and reviewed 33 exhibits. Furthermore, the trial judge specifically explained to the parties the role of the parenting evaluator and the guardian ad litem in her decision, stating: In questioning Dr. Hedrick yesterday, I want to make sure that absolutely each of you understand in asking those questions, I'm trying to place her opinion in some context. It's simply an expert, and that's her opinion. She is not a fact witness, in this case, simply one person which under the law requires me to consider, but not be bound by. I'm not bound by the G.A.L. recommendation, nor Dr. Hedrick's recommendation. It's simply a recommendation. And only when I hear all the evidence, that then I make a decision. Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Feb. 7, 2002) at 2-3. In this case, Luby's due process rights were not violated by the trial court's use of the parenting evaluation or the guardian ad litem recommendation.