Brent Pattison, Director of the Middleton Children’s Rights Center, testified in support of a proposed Juvenile Court Rule at a public hearing in front of the Iowa Supreme Court on July 9th.
The new rule would require initial and continuing training requirements for attorneys who represent parents in child welfare cases. Professor Pattison testified about similar rules in other states, as well as research indicating that enhancing parent representation can improve outcomes for children in abuse and neglect cases.
After a morning of testimony, the Iowa Supreme Court also invited Professor Pattison and others to join a work session regarding the rule. Attorneys and judges from across the state participated in a thoughtful discussion regarding the rule, and a decision is expected this summer.
Professor Pattison had assistance preparing for the hearing from two St. Olaf Legal Scholars interning at the Legal Clinic this summer, Joel Jaeger and Alexander Hsu.