Members of the Child Protective Legal Representation Task Force held a virtual news conference to release a report with recommendations for improving legal representation in Michigan's child protective proceedings. The report includes public input and suggests establishing a statewide parent and child legal representation office. Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement, along with Justices Megan K. Cavanagh and Kyra H. Bolden, shared key findings.
“Protecting children and families is one of the most important functions of our judiciary,” said Chief Justice Clement. “Through the work of this Task Force, Michigan can serve as a model in ensuring that all voices are heard in the courts.”
Justice Cavanagh emphasized the need for a statewide system, stating, “Establishing a statewide system of legal representation in the child protective system was long overdue.” She expressed pride in having a comprehensive plan for reforms.
Justice Bolden highlighted the extensive input received for the report: “The level of both expert and public input into this report is wide-ranging and substantive.”
The justices were joined by Judge Tina Yost Johnson, Professor Vivek Sankaran from the University of Michigan Law School, and Senator Sam Singh during the news conference.
Professor Sankaran remarked on the importance of reform: “This report highlights the crisis in legal representation for parents and children in child protective proceedings across the state.”
The Task Force collected input through its 2023 Public Listening Tour across various locations in Michigan and studied models from other states to address disparities in attorney compensation, training, and engagement levels.
The Task Force was established in 2023 to tackle these issues due to ongoing challenges faced by courts in maintaining court-appointed attorneys for child protective cases.