Opinion ID: 2514227
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: guardian ad litem participation inherently prejudicial

Text: ¶ 39 In addition to concluding that the trial court committed plain error under our Dunn standard by allowing the guardian ad litem to participate as he did in this case, we also conclude that the extent of the guardian ad litem's participation was in violation of the standard set forth in Holbrook v. Flynn, 475 U.S. 560, 570, 106 S.Ct. 1340, 89 L.Ed.2d 525 (1986) (stating courts must consider whether a practice presents an unacceptable risk of bringing into play impermissible factors which might erode the presumption of innocence). We agree with defendant that allowing the guardian ad litem, appointed only to protect the interests of A.G. as a child victim, to sit at counsel table with the State, examine witnesses, and make objections, is inherently prejudicial. The practice presents an unacceptable risk of bringing into play impermissible factors which might erode the presumption of innocence to which the defendant is entitled as a matter of constitutional right. The activities of the guardian ad litem in the course of defendant's trial violated defendant's right to due process of law, as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and by article 1, section 7 of the Utah Constitution. The trial court erred in allowing it. [12]