Opinion ID: 2576001
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: When May Appellate Counsel Seek Funds to Investigate a Motion to Dismiss an Appeal Based on a Child's Best Interests?

Text: Finally, we turn to the question of the respective roles of a child's appellate counsel and his or her CAPTA guardian ad litem before the filing of a motion to dismiss an appeal. Given that appellate counsel cannot file a motion to dismiss without the CAPTA guardian ad litem's authorization, can she seek funds to independently investigate the child's circumstances? We conclude she can. The CAPTA guardian ad litem for young children incapable of informed consent has the final say on whether a motion to dismiss will be filed. But as appellate counsel correctly points out, the issues of (1) whether a motion to dismiss a dependency appeal can be authorized only by the CAPTA guardian ad litem, and (2) what steps an attorney may take in investigating and analyzing those best interests in order to counsel the child and guardian ad litem, are conceptually distinct. Though the CAPTA guardian ad litem has the ultimate authority to sanction a motion to dismiss, appellate counsel has a separate obligation to offer counsel as part of her duty of zealous representation. (ABA Model Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 1.4(b).) Nothing in the rules setting out the CAPTA guardian ad litem's duties makes her duty to evaluate the child's circumstances exclusive or precludes others from evaluating those circumstances; rather, the guardian ad litem is only one among many invested with the duty to protect the child's best interests. (See Berry v. Chaplin (1946) 74 Cal.App.2d 652, 657, 169 P.2d 442 [It is the duty of the guardian and the attorney to protect the rights of the minor, and it is the duty of the court to see that such rights are protected].) There may be cases where appellate counsel will need to see the child in order to evaluate adequately whether a motion to dismiss is appropriate and properly counsel the child and advise the CAPTA guardian ad litem. There may be cases where a visit by appellate counsel, or by both appellate counsel and the CAPTA guardian ad litem, will reveal circumstances that cause the CAPTA guardian ad litem, after consultation with appellate counsel, to revise her view of the child's best interests and approve a motion to dismiss. For these reasons, we reject the categorical rule adopted by the Court of Appeal that would preclude such motions. That said, it is incumbent on appellate counsel, before requesting funds, to weigh the cost of delay in the proceedings resulting from any proposed visit against both the need for additional information in light of the already available evidence and the position of the CAPTA guardian ad litem. Where the CAPTA guardian ad litem is apparently set against dismissal, only in a rare case will the seeking, or granting, of funds be appropriate, and appellate counsel's burden to justify the request will be heavy. In contrast, if the CAPTA guardian ad litem is uncertain about the propriety of dismissal, it may be appropriate for counsel to seek, and the Court of Appeal to authorize, funds that would allow informed counseling of the client and guardian ad litem. In light of these principles, we consider whether the Court of Appeal here properly denied appellate counsel's request for funds. Appellate counsel sought funds to better inform her personal assessment of the children's best interests. She conceded that [t]rial counsel ... believes that pursuit of the appeal is in the best interest of the children.... She asserted the authority to file a motion to dismiss without regard to the wishes of trial counsel, the children's CAPTA guardian ad litem. In response to the appellate court's request for briefing, trial counsel reiterated her unequivocal opposition to the motion to dismiss. On this record, the Court of Appeal properly denied appellate counsel's request. Appellate counsel demonstrated no circumstances that might require the CAPTA guardian ad litem to reassess her decision to appeal, nor any possibility that the issuance of funds would lead the guardian to authorize a motion to dismiss. We summarize our conclusions. Appellate counsel has the power to move to dismiss a dependency appeal based on a child's best interests, and a Court of Appeal has the power to consider and rule on that motion, even though it may involve consideration of postjudgment evidence. Though such a motion requires the authorization of the child or the CAPTA guardian ad litem, a visit with the child to evaluate his or her needs may in some circumstances still be appropriate. Appellate counsel demonstrated no such circumstances here.