STATE OF FLORIDA, EX REL. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, PETITIONER,
v.
PHILIP G. NOURSE, AS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE OF THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RESPONDENT
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The State of Florida challenged a circuit judge's orders requiring it to pay attorney's fees for a court-appointed attorney ad litem representing children in a custody matter. The appellate court held that the judge exceeded his jurisdiction by appointing a private attorney without compliance with the Guardian Ad Litem Program's mandatory standards, which required either certified volunteers or prior program request for attorney appointment.
The judge exceeded his jurisdiction by appointing a private attorney as attorney ad litem without compliance with mandatory standards. Under Standard 1.6, only certified Guardian Ad Litem Program volunteers may be appointed unless the program itself requests attorney appointment. The orders for payment of attorney's fees were improper and quashed.
[1] Prohibition is not the appropriate remedy to review orders for the payment of attorney's fees that have already been entered; certiorari should be used instead.
[2] Orders requiring payment of attorney's fees may be reviewed by certiorari when they appear to be departures from the essential requirements of law.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Only duly certified volunteers of the State of Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program may be appointed as guardian ad litem for a child in abuse or neglect proceedings, unless the program requests appointment of an attorney to act as a guardian ad litem”
Establishes the mandatory standard limiting who may be appointed as attorney ad litem in child proceedings
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceTwo minor children were the subject of custody litigation between parents in different states. The father removed the children from Indiana to Florida…
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DOWNEY, Judge.
By petition for prohibition the State of Florida, ex rel. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, seeks to prohibit respondent, Philip G. Nourse, Circuit Judge, from acting in excess of his jurisdiction in ordering petitioner to pay attorney’s fees to an attorney appointed by respondent to act as attorney ad litem for several children then under the jurisdiction of petitioner. Since the orders for payment of attorney’s fees have been entered, prohibition does not appear to be the appropriate remedy. English v. McCrary, 348 So. 2d 293 (Fla.1977). Rather, certiorari should be resorted to, since the respondent’s orders appear to be departures from the essential requirements of law.
The two minors were involved in custody litigation between their parents, one of whom lived in Indiana, the other in Florida. The father, a Florida resident, went to Indiana, took the children and returned to Florida. Proceedings here were commenced and the children were turned over to petitioner while the court determined the appropriate disposition of their custody. The trial judge appointed a member of the St. Lucie County Bar as Attorney Ad Litem to represent the children and, upon completion of said services, the court determined an appropriate amount for attorney’s fees, which petitioner was required to pay. It is the propriety of said order that we are asked to review here.
Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.590 and Chapter 415, Florida Statutes, have established the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program, which is to be governed by the Minimal Standards of Operation as adopted by the supreme court by administrative order on February 7, 1985. Rule 8.590(a) states:
At any stage of the proceedings, any party may request or the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent any child alleged to be dependent (emphasis added).
Standard 1.6 of the Minimal Standards of Operation, however, specifically states:
Only duly certified volunteers of the State of Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program may be appointed as guardian ad litem for a child in abuse or neglect proceedings, unless the program requests appointment of an attorney to act as a guardian ad litem (emphasis added).
Petitioner points out that at no time did it request the appointment of a guardian ad litem nor did the program request the appointment of an attorney ad litem. Petitioner further notes that the Guardian Ad Litem Program was not involved nor appointed for representation or advice here and, therefore, the court failed to properly comply with standard 1.6. In addition, petitioner notes that standard 1.7 provides that “[fjunds for ... attorney contracts shall be determined annually based on legislative appropriation.” Thus, to now visit attorney’s fees upon the agency when it did not ask for appointment of an attorney seems contrary to the express provision of the standards. For that reason we believe petitioner, was justified in objecting to the two orders in question, which should be, and are hereby, quashed.
LETTS and DELL, JJ., concur.
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In the Interest of C.T., 503 So. 2d 972 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987)…rdian ad litem program on July 1, 1985. Therefore Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.590 and Chapter 415, Florida Statutes (1985) applies to the sixteen cases filed after July 1, 1985. In Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services v. Nourse, 489 So. 2d 1214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986), we held: [*973] Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.590 and Chapter 415, Florida Statutes, have established the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program, which is to be governed by the Minimal Standards of Operation as adopted by the…
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Marion Cnty. v. Johnson, 586 So. 2d 1163 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)…n County, pursuant to the trial court’s order. In Interest of D.B., 385 So. 2d 83 (Fla.1980).1 4. Attorney Johnson, who would bear his own fees and costs if he remains unpaid. C.T.; State ex rel. Dep’t of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Nourse, 489 So. 2d 1214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986); Florida Dep’t of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. R.M.A., 327 So. 2d 844 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976). ■ ATTORNEY AD LITEM VERSUS GUARDIAN AD LITEM Before beginning the determination of who must bear the burden of Johnson’s fees and…1 / 2
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Brevard Cnty. v. Dep't OF Health & Rehabilitative Servs., 589 So. 2d 398 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)…or the county but rather, were appointed by the trial judge. The court found specifically that the trial court’s order was violative of both Standards 1.6 and 1.7. The C.T. court relied upon Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Nourse, 489 So. 2d 1214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986) in which the district court quashed the trial court’s order requiring H.R.S. to pay attorney’s fees to an attorney appointed by the court to act as attorney ad litem for several children. The district court again found that the t…
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- Carey English v. McCRARY, 348 So. 2d 293 (Fla. 1977)