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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DMaA who wrote (105010)	3/20/2005 1:19:06 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793824

Analogizing from family law cases, "interested" persons typically are relatives and other persons who have been involved in taking care of the person at issue. Analogizing from criminal cases, sometimes lawyers are appointed to represent the rights of persons at issue; these are called Guardians At Litem (GAL). But typically none of the above are acting in their own interest, they are acting in the capacity of "next friend." For example -- I now represent one set of grandparents in a custody matter involving a severely abused child. In court on Friday, there was a lawyer for the husband, a GAL because he is incarcerated, a lawyer for the mom, a GAL for the child, a lawyer for Child Protective Services, and a couple other lawyers for the other relatives who are trying to get custody. Counsel tables were full and overflowed to the first row of seats. This isn't as uncommon as you'd think. Think back to the Elian Gonzales case, for example. Lots of lawyers there, as well. Lawyers for the dad, lawyers for the kid, lawyers for the Miami relatives, lawyers for the federal agencies involved. When important rights are at stake, it's better to err on the side of caution.