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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/23/2006 4:01:40 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Maryland--Calls Needed to Oppose Disrupting Parent-Child Relationships |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 23, 2006 Maryland--Calls Needed to Oppose Disrupting Parent-Child Relationships Dear HSLDA members and friends, Two bills have been filed, Senate Bill 664 and House Bill 700, which could give strangers the right to speak on behalf of your children. Ordinarily, parents have the right to speak on behalf of their children. Only in unusual situations, such as disputes over custody, visitation and child support, can a judge appoint a lawyer to represent the child. These two bills, however, dangerously expand the power of judges by giving them authority to appoint a lawyer for a child in any situation, as long as the judge is "concerned about the welfare" of a child. The bills do not define "concerned" or give any objective standards. They leave the door open for judges to interpret it as they please, with unpredictable consequences. Another major problem is that these lawyers will be exempt from malpractice and parents will be forced to pay their fees. ACTION REQUESTED: If either of your delegates or your senator is listed below, please call them and ask them to oppose these bills. For your delegate, your message can be as simple as: "Please oppose House Bill 700. The bill allows judges to interfere with families by appointing lawyers for children from healthy, intact families in virtually any situation, excuses those lawyers from malpractice, and forces the parents to pay the bill. " For your senator, your message can be as simple as: "Please oppose Senate Bill 664. The bill allows judges to interfere with families by appointing lawyers for children from healthy, intact families in virtually any situation, excuses those lawyers from malpractice, and forces the parents to pay the bill. " Contact Information: Use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to determine which of the senators and delegates below is yours. SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE Chairman: Brian E. Frosh - 301-858-3124 Vice Chairman: Leo E. Green - 301-858-3631 Jennie M. Forehand - 301-858-3134 Nancy Jacobs - 410-841-3158 Rob Garagiola - 301-858-3169 Philip C. Jimeno - 410-841-3658 John A. Giannetti, Jr. - 410-841-3141 or 301-858-3141 Alexander X. Mooney - 301-858-3575 Larry E. Haines - 410-841-3683 Norman R. Stone, Jr. - 410-841-3587 Ralph M. Hughes - 410-841-3656 HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Chairman: Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. - 301-858-3488 or 410-841-3488 Vice Chairman: Samuel I. Rosenberg - 410-841-3297 Curt Anderson - 410-841-3291 Susan K. McComas - 410-841-3289 Anthony G. Brown - 301-858-3707 Herb McMillan - 410-841-3439 Jill P. Carter - 410-841-3283 Pauline H. Menes - 301-858-3114 Kathleen M. Dumais - 301-858-3052 Carol S. Petzold - 301-858-3001 Donald H. Dwyer, Jr. - 410-841-3047 Neil F. Quinter - 410-841-3246 Ana Sol Gutierrez - 301-858-3181 Christopher B. Shank - 301-858-3447 Darryl A. Kelley - 301-858-3212 Tanya T. Shewell - 410-841-3371 or 301-858-3371 Kevin Kelly - 301-858-3404 Luiz R. S. Simmons - 301-858-3037 Susan C. Lee - 301-858-3019 Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. - 410-841-3555 Wm. Daniel Mayer - 410-841-3247 Theodore Sophocleus - 410-841-3372 Bobby A. Zirkin - 410-841-3342 BACKGROUND: When an adult has a lawyer, the lawyer is ethically obligated to do and say what the client wants. But when a court appoints a lawyer for a child, the lawyer can say anything he wants and completely disregard the wishes of the child. Court-appointed child attorneys are sometimes hostile to parents and pursue their own agendas of "child liberation." Since the lawyer does not have a client there is no check to their behavior. The language of the bill is not completely clear, however. While some could read it to mean judges only have this new power if there is already a legal action, it could easily be read to give judges this power even if there is no legal action pending. These bills authorize a breathtaking judicial intrusion into ordinary families--even if their wording is interpreted in the more restrictive manner. Both bills have already received hearings, but neither committee has voted yet. Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. Membership with HSLDA is an investment in the future that can be passed on to future generations of families wanting to teach their children at home. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
