Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in California
conflict of interest
After my children where detained, I stated to social worker I was fighting the petition and hiring private attorney. Whithin two days my case was switched to different department, new social worker, and supervisor. I was told conflict of interest I thought it was because of father who just retired as seargent of the Los Angeles County Sherriffs Department and his pull in this matter which I cannot prove, but it wasnt I guess there is a family member on fathers side who works within department. Is that a conflict of interest to anything prior and could have an affect on case?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: conflict of interest
Unfortunately, there are so few safeguards in California juvenile courts against favoritism of the type you alleged, that I often see cases where a friend of a cop / family member of a cop / friend of a social worker will be able to exert influence over the case, even to the point where the system will ignore actual child abuse on the part of the favored parent or caretaker. Favoritism of this type is a violation of civil rights under well established 9th Circuit precedent, please see a lawyer specializing in civil rights law (42 USC 1983). If the lawyer you consult does not regularly handle 42 USC 1983 cases in federal court, if he or she is unfamiliar with the term "42 USC 1983," or he or she blows you off, see a different lawyer.
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