Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights • Mandatory Appointment of Children’s Counsel • Use of Attorney Guardian Ad Litem
In Re: Adoption of: L.B.M., a minor, PICS Case No. 17-0499 (Pa. March 28, 2017) Wecht, J.; Baer, J., dissenting. (31 pages).
Trial court erred in failing to appoint independent legal counsel for children in involuntary termination of parental rights proceeding, upon determining that appointed guardian ad litem’s representation would best represent children’s interests, where statute explicitly mandated appointment of independent counsel who could advocate for children’s legal interests, as opposed to GAL who advocated for children’s best interest. Order of the superior court reversed.
