Magazine Archive
Interview with One of Our Newest Judges, Hon. Linda Lye
Before leaving office, Governor Jerry Brown appointed several new California Superior Court Judges at the end of 2018. The Contra Costa County Bar Association thanks each one for their service to the profession prior to becoming a judge, and appreciates their commitment to justice by becoming dedicated judges. On October 26, 2018, Judge Linda Lye...
Read ArticleChildren’s Rights – A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma
Welcome to the Children’s Rights Issue of the Contra Costa Lawyer. Serving as the co-editor of this issue with Barbara Suskind has been a very special experience for me. In our ever changing world children’s rights are constantly evolving. With growing immigration issues, divorce on the rise, LBGTQ rights taking center stage and a foster...
Read ArticleChildren Confounding the Courts; An Immigration Conundrum
Separation of families at the border has been a big part of the news of late. According to the Department of Homeland Security, last Spring 2,342 children had been separated from their parents after crossing the Southern U.S. border. However, according to a report issued on January 17, 2019 by the inspector general for the...
Read ArticleMinor's Counsel - Protecting Children's Rights in Family and Probate Court
As this issue of The Contra Costa Lawyer is devoted to “children’s rights,” it seems appropriate to explore what their rights are when family members can’t agree on who gets to make decisions about the child’s health, education, and welfare; where the child will live; with whom the child will live; how much time the...
Read ArticleThe Child as a Witness in Dissolution Proceedings
Clients often ask whether their child will have to choose which parent he or she wants to live with after the divorce. As with most legal questions, the answer is—It depends. While a child is not required to express to the court his or her preference or to provide any input regarding custody or visitation,...
Read ArticleA Safe Place to Talk - New Law Requires Support Services for Transgender Youth in Foster Care
On September 14, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2119 amending Welfare and Institutions Code sections 16010.0 and 16010.2 to provide gender affirming health care and mental health care to foster youth. Gender identity, as defined by the American Psychological Association (APA), is a person’s deeply-felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man,...
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