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Amicus Curiae Briefs

First Star Institute provides critical Information to Courts on issues impacting abused and neglected children through “Friend of the Court” briefs. In these amicus curiae briefs, the Institute generally focuses on how the court’s decision may have a much broader impact on foster youth nationwide.

First Star Institute and other organizations filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting protections to be afforded child victims who testify.  The defendant had requested Supreme Court review, arguing that the right of confrontation required that he personally cross examine the child victims who were testifying and he had chosen to represent himself.  The Supreme Court did not grant certiorari.

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Brief of Arizona v. Padilla

In a Maryland case, the Institute, and other organizations, filed an amicus curiae brief underscoring the need to support protecting parents.  In the Maryland case of McClanahan v. Washington County Social Services, a protecting parent found herself to be the object of a child protection proceeding with the state assuming intent, and stopping further investigatory actions.  The appellate court reversed the lower decision.

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Opinion in McClanahan v. Washington

In an appeal in a case in Washington State, In re dependency of S.K.P., a Minor Child, First Star Institute and other amici curiae detailed dependency proceedings’ impacts on children’s physical liberty and described the national scholarship and trends favoring recognition of a constitutional right of children to legal counsel in dependency matters.

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State of Washington
Amicus Curiae Brief

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