Opinion ID: 73631
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: In Camera Interview of D.M.

Text: D.M. decided on her own to speak to the district court judge. Accordingly, the district court conducted an in camera interview of D.M. No objections were raised to this interview, which took place on May 2, 1998. A transcript of the court’s in camera interview is in the record. On May 11, 1998, the district court dismissed the action and entered judgment for Defendants. In the order dismissing the action, the district court recites that during the interview, D.M. stated that she was not being mistreated at the Methodist Home and did not want or need a lawyer. The transcript of the interview also shows that D.M. stated that the “Methodist Home is a very nice program” and “a very good place,” and that she had “matured a lot” since she had been there. According to the district court and the transcript, while D.M. desired to have 1 We observe that GAO’s complaint does not contain an allegation that GAO sought access to the Methodist Home generally for purposes such as providing information to residents about GAO services and that Defendants illegally denied general access to the Methodist Home for such purposes. Instead, GAO’s complaint repeatedly alleges that GAO sought access to D.M. and that Defendants illegally denied access to D.M. The complaint’s references to access to the Methodist Home are all in the context of D.M. While at the end of the complaint GAO includes a separate prayer for relief seeking access to the Methodist Home, there are no preceding allegations that GAO sought general access for purposes relating to residents other than D.M. and was illegally denied such general access. 5 a personal relationship with Mrs. Anderson, she had no interest in being represented by the attorneys at GAO. Based on the interview, the district court concluded that “[t]here can be no actual case or controversy involving access to D.M. if she does not wish to be represented.” As for GAO’s claims for access to the Methodist Home generally, the district court found that GAO had offered no evidence about any minor, other than D.M., within the care of the Methodist Home, who might qualify for the protection of the PAIMI Act. Thus, the district court found that GAO could not show any harm or potential harm that would arise from GAO’s limited access to the Methodist Home. Based on these findings, the district court determined that GAO’s general-access claims were “too speculative to create a substantial justiciable controversy.”