http://www.alliancealert.org news from the frontlines of the culture war Thu, 24 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/06/09/wa-supreme-court-due-process-does-not-require-right-to-counsel-in-early-stages-of-truancy-proceedings/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/06/09/wa-supreme-court-due-process-does-not-require-right-to-counsel-in-early-stages-of-truancy-proceedings/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:45:03 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=105930 Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. E.S., No. 83024-0 (Wash. Jun. 9, 2011)(Concurrence) (Dissent) We are asked to decide whether the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or the due process clause set forth in article I, section 3 of the Washington Constitution requires appointment of counsel to represent a child at an initial truancy hearing. The Court of Appeals, Division One held that due process protections compel appointment of counsel at that stage of a truancy proceeding. We hold that the Court of Appeals erred in making that determination and, therefore, reverse its decision . . . For reasons set forth above, we hold that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution does not require that appointed counsel represent a child in an initial truancy hearing. We conclude, additionally, that in this context the Gunwall factors do not support an independent inquiry under article I, section 3 of the Washington Constitution. The Court of Appeals is reversed. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/06/09/wa-supreme-court-due-process-does-not-require-right-to-counsel-in-early-stages-of-truancy-proceedings/feed/ 0