Opinion ID: 1843757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: hearing officers

Text: Currently, rule 12.491 prohibits hearing officers from hearing contested paternity cases. Under the proposed amendment to that rule, hearing officers are prohibited only from presiding over jury trials in paternity cases but they may evaluate evidence and make findings and recommendations regarding paternity in cases where a jury trial will not be conducted. The steering committee requests this change to comply with federal requirements regarding an expedited paternity determination in certain cases. We decline to adopt this change at this time. The fact that an expedited paternity determination is required in certain cases does not eliminate the right of litigants to have substantive due process decisions be determined by article V judicial officers. Federal regulations cannot change or eliminate that right. Clearly, judges can provide expedited paternity determinations when necessary. Given the nature of paternity proceedings, we decline to approve this proposed change.