Opinion ID: 1356962
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Text: The majority has embarked on an extended and meandering expedition through the law of abuse and neglect. Prior to the enrollment of this opinion in the annals of the law, we had endeavored to develop some semblance of order and ease of application in the requirements of this area of the law. Experience has shown that neglect and abuse law should be kept as simple and humane as possible. The last thing we need in this area is a how many angels can dance on the head of a pin approach with lots of meaningless procedural hoops to jump through. It must be remembered: Rules of practice and procedure are devised to promote the ends of justice, not to defeat them. Hormel v. Helvering, 312 U.S. 552, 557, 61 S.Ct. 719, 721, 85 L.Ed. 1037 (1941). With the majority's presentation of this obscure and easily misconstrued opinion, I have several significant areas of concern.