AdAYintHeLifeofAguArdiAnAdLitemAPPeLLAteAttorneY
Government lawyers Section Chairs : AlexaCline — OfficeoftheStateAttorney & ChristianKatchuk — 13thJudicialCircuitCourt
Ialways thought I had to work my way up the totem pole of trial experience before reaching the appellate echelon . I graduated from Cooley Law School in 2020 and joined the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office ’ s ( GAL ) appellate division in January 2022 .
Most are familiar with the mission of GAL — to represent the best interests of Florida ’ s children who have been abused , abandoned and neglected . Under chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes , the GAL is a party to dependency proceedings as the child ’ s representative . This representation continues during an appeal of an order issued during the GAL ’ s appointment . Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.360 ( b ) and 9.020 ( g )( 2 ) both compel continuation
it ’ struewhattheysay — whenyoulovewhat youdo , whatyoudo doesn ’ tfeellikework . of the guardian ad litem ’ s status from the lower court in the appeal . Continuation of the GAL ’ s party status is necessary to its ability to defend the order on appeal .
That ’ s where I come in . I am one of eight appellate attorneys who handle all dependency appeals throughout the state . The
Continuedonpage31
3 0 S E P - O C T 2 0 2 3 | H C B A L A W Y E R