Court Opinion

ID: 9752136
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 17:38:41.413652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:08.288584
License: Public Domain

MANDERINO, Justice
(dissenting).
I disagree with the majority’s assertion that children have no right to counsel at termination of parental rights proceedings. Children have interests independent of their parents or the state and deserve independent legal representation to protect those interests.
As the majority points out, the Legislature has recognized the potential benefits of counsel for children. Representation for juveniles is required in all juvenile court proceedings, including dependency hearings which can result in the removal of a child from his or her parents’ home. That the Legislature has not yet extended the right to counsel to proceedings under the Adoption Act should not deter this Court from now requiring such representation. Under our supervisory rule-making powers, we can and should require counsel for children in all adoption and termination of parental rights proceedings. *63To do so is consistent with the Legislature’s policy concerning legal representation of children, as manifested by Section 317 of the Juvenile Court Act, 11 P.S. § BO-317 (Supp.1975). In fact, since the termination of parental rights is a far more drastic result than a finding of dependency, it would be inconsistent not to require counsel at the termination proceedings.
As Judge Spaeth aptly stated in Stapleton v. Dauphin Court Child Care Service, 228 Pa.Super. 371, 324 A.2d 562 (1974), where it was held that a child was entitled to counsel in a custody proceeding under the Juvenile Act “[t]o say that the child is merely the subject of the proceeding, not a ‘party’ to it, would be to return to the child-as-chattel mentality.” 228 Pa.Super. at 392, 324 A.2d at 573.
I would therefore remand for a new hearing in which the children are represented by counsel.
NIX, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.