HON. NORMAN E. Champagne of Manchester District Court and Hon. Paul H. Lawrence of Goffstown District Court received awards from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire at its recent Annual Meeting. Acknowledged for their early support of the organization, Judges Champagne and Lawrence were the first judges to welcome CASA volunteer guardians ad litem into the court setting when the advocacy group began in 1989.

The 1974 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL) to promote and protect the abused or neglected child’s best interests in court. While its language was not exclusive, attorneys were usually appointed because they had the knowledge and facility to step into this growing arena. Few social workers and court-appointed attorneys, however, had the time or resources to gather the voluminous information needed and visit with the child victim on a regular basis.

According to CASA literature, when the organization was created it "had to overcome the skepticism that greeted an organization relying on non-lawyer, but well-trained, community volunteers to perform an advocacy role for children in the emotionally charged and legally complex world of family law."

Judge Lawrence said that he accepted CASA GALs into his courtroom early on because he "thought it would provide a valuable resource to the children who appeared before the court." Before the introduction of CASA GALs, attorneys advocated for children in court. "I had a good group of attorneys providing representation for children, but this was a chance to do something statewide, following a set of standards CASA would develop. The CASA GALs filled a need for statewide advocacy for children, which is really good for kids," said Lawrence.

Lawrence believes CASA GALs are an integral part of the system because each handles only a few cases at once, allowing them to dedicate a lot of time to representing the best interests of those children. "These are advocates from all walks of life who have the ability to advocate for the needs of the kids – both in and out of the court system," he said.

Now a widely accepted and valued resource, CASA GALs’ role has not changed since he first allowed them in his courtroom, according to Lawrence. "They still perform the same task of doing their best to represent children," he said.

At press time, Judge Champagne was unavailable for comment.

Judges Champagne and Lawrence had the courage to try something new for the good of maltreated children and, by so doing, helped validate CASA of NH as a key player in the state’s child welfare system. Their endorsement ultimately encouraged the respect of the state’s judiciary. Since CASA’s arrival, much of its expansion has come at the request of New Hampshire’s judges, who find the information provided by CASA GAL volunteers invaluable when making decisions about the life and future of a child. In 1995, the private, nonprofit organization was specifically written into the state’s child welfare statute, ensuring that CASA GALs would be entitled to the same access to information and possess the same authority as any other GAL.

"Research has shown that a child who has a CASA volunteer advocating on his behalf spends less time in foster care and moves more quickly through the child welfare and juvenile court systems," Marcia Sink, CASA’s executive director, reported. "More importantly, CASA volunteers provide children with a source of support and trust in what has become a frightening and unstable time for them," said Sink.

CASA of New Hampshire, Inc. is a statewide private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping abused and neglected children toward safe, loving, permanent homes. Applications are now being accepted for training classes being offered around the state. For information on becoming a CASA volunteer in your community, call (603) 626-4600 or e-mail speakup@casanh.org. Information on the organization can be found at CASA’s Web site, www.casanh.org.

Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store
Lawyer Referral Service | Law-Related Education | NHBA•CLE | NHBA Insurance Agency | NHMCLE
Search | Calendar

New Hampshire Bar Association
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301
phone: (603) 224-6942 fax: (603) 224-2910
email: NHBAinfo@nhbar.org
© NH Bar Association Disclaimer