Opinion ID: 2284287
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The failure of the adversarial system and the effect of the consular treaty.

Text: The failure of due process stems not only from the deficiency of notice and opportunity to be heard but also from the failure of the adversarial system. Judge Stith's opinion thoroughly sets forth the failures of counsel to provide even the most basic legal representation. That no counsel was appointed for the first two months made it difficult for the mother to protest the inadequacy of the notice she was provided. When the court finally appointed counsel for her, the representation was grossly inadequate. Even opposing counsel, representing the proposed adoptive parents, recognized the deficiency. The adoptive parents' counsel sought to remedy this inadequacy by hiring a lawyer for the mother. Judge Stith is correct as to this lawyer's conflict of interest as well as the inadequacy of the representation that obviously resulted from the conflict. The problem of getting legal representation, or any effective assistance, for foreign nationals who face these difficulties might be solved in some cases by adhering to the provisions of the consular treaty to which the United States and Guatemala are parties. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations requires the United States to notify a foreign national minor's consulate without delay whenever it is considering the appointment of a guardian. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, art. 37, Apr. 24, 1963, 21 U.S.T. 77. [2] A child only is considered a foreign national when he is not a United States citizen. Because the child here was born in the United States, no notification technically is required, even though Guatemala also considers him a citizen. The United States Department of State, however, notes that allowing consular assistance will be particularly important in cases involving children, including those with two nationalities. . . . U.S. Dep't of State at 12-14. The State Department's recommendation should be followed. Notification is important because [c]onsular officials are in a unique position to assist courts and other competent authorities in determining what is in the best interests of a foreign national minor. . . . U.S. Dep't of State at 35. Consular officials may be able to help locate family of the child either in the United States or in the child's country of citizenship who can act as the child's guardian, provide information about cultural differences between their country and the United States, provide information about resources that are available in their country to assist the child, obtain relevant documentation about the child and/or the child's family, and arrange for legal representation for the child and/or the child's foreign-national parent(s) if necessary. See id. I do not fault the circuit court or counsel for not observing the existence of this treaty, because, frankly, I am aware of no steps the state of Missouri or our court system has taken to bring this to the attention of local courts. Because there are tens of thousands of foreign nationals working in Missouri, however, problems such as this are likely to recur. [3] We should view the consulates of foreign governments as sources of help in these situations. See In re the Interest of Angelica L. and Daniel L., 277 Neb. 984, 767 N.W.2d 74, 89-96 (2009); id. at 96-97 (Gerrard, J., concurring).