Washington Supreme Court rules kids don’t have a right to a lawyer in dependency hearings

In so ruling, the majority court also established criteria for family court judges to consider when deciding whether to appoint an attorney to children who are involved in dependency cases.

News Story (Washington)

Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times
October 4, 2018
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Tags: Children & Juvenile, Civil Right to Counsel

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Last year, the Legislature provided resources for attorneys to be appointed to children in dependency cases in limited circumstances as part of a pilot project.

“It wasn’t a complete victory, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said Murillo, who argued the case before the Washington Supreme Court in March. She said that arguably the most important people in dependency hearings are the ones too often without a voice.