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Chief Justice tells House Judiciary panel delays in family-court cases leave children without permanency; backs H.193 task force review
Summary
At a May 1 House Judiciary Committee hearing, the state’s Chief Justice described long delays in family-court cases, cited a 2016 Vermont Supreme Court decision as an example, and urged lawmakers to pursue the child-and-parent legal representation task force proposals in H.193 to address resource and structural gaps.
At a May 1 House Judiciary Committee hearing, the Chief Justice told committee members that resource shortages and procedural complexity in family-court cases have left some children in foster care far longer than statutory timelines and supported the committee’s move toward a child-and-parent legal representation task force under H.193.
The Chief Justice said the court system is stretched: “Unfortunately, due to the dramatic increase in the juvenile docket and shortage of resources, including judges, lawyers, guardian ad litem, and courtrooms, timely decisions are sacrificed for the required process,” and urged lawmakers to consider structural fixes and…
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