tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post3495229468476095236..comments2023-10-24T11:55:57.073-04:00Comments on Maine GALert: Is 1% really a problem with Maine's Guardian ad litems?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-45807406568202921312012-06-15T21:39:50.909-04:002012-06-15T21:39:50.909-04:00Although Maine's Judicial Branch records indi...Although Maine's Judicial Branch records indicate very limited complaints about GALs and minimal "corrective action" (2 "tut tuts" in 2 years), it is obvious that "First Star", a national child advocacy group "begs to differ". Maine has received an "F" on its national report card for the last 3 years on child safety and children's rights.<br /><br />NH has a much more "user friendly" GAL complaint system, which provides several pages of instruction in how to file a complaint, a standardized form which guides complaint presentation, suggestions regarding documentation, a transparent hearing process, notification of outcome and a posting of the GAL's status after on an official web site.<br /><br />Maine's Boards of registration have a complaint process that is similar to the NH process described above. Their staff are available to help people making a complaint. It is user friendly, transparent and accountable. Consumer protection is taken seriously.<br /><br />Maine's complaint process reflects an "attitude problem" about consumer complaints. Such complaints are inevitably perceived as the result of a "bad outcome" and the one making the complaint is being a bad sport or whiner. Consumer protection is a revolutionary idea for the JB.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-87289299545689534842012-06-15T14:47:00.362-04:002012-06-15T14:47:00.362-04:00This is a serious problem, because there are absol...This is a serious problem, because there are absolutely no criteria, no guidelines for filing a complaint with Judge La Verdiere. If one looks at some generic categories, it is hard to guess, if any of these categories might warrant "corrective action of any sort from Judge La Verdiere. <br /><br />Ethical infractions: conflicts of interest, accepting/asking for gifts, threats, inappropriate relationships - do these matter? Would they be valid areas for a complaint? Your guess is as good as mine. It is a shot in the dark, with no guidelines.<br /><br />Statutory violations. Are they worth a complaint or not? Guess! We're not telling.<br /><br />Child safety issues are probably a waste of time for a complaint, since they draw little attention and are frequently read as a play to "win" against your adversary.<br /><br />Bias towards one party is most often a "non-starter". You'd need a video and 10 witnesses.<br /><br />Consumers are not stupid. There is recognition that a complaint to the Chief Judge is a total "crap shoot". No criteria, no guidelines, no open hearing, and feedback is an insulting "one liner." Our verdict: no target to aim at, no enforcement, no oversight. Final analysis: malfunctioning GALs are definitely not a problem for the judiciary. <br /><br />The statistics are wonderful, limited problem. Controlling the complaint process, controls the statistics!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com