Rule 44-20. Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem

(a) In any criminal proceeding involving an abused or neglected minor child, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed. The judicial authority may also appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor involved in any other criminal proceedings, including those in which the minor resides with and is the victim of a person arrested or charged with a criminal offense, those in which the minor resides in the same household as the victim and the defendant, or those in which the minor is the defendant. Unless the judicial authority orders that another person be appointed guardian ad litem, the family relations counselor or family relations caseworker shall be designated as guardian ad litem.

(b) If the guardian ad litem is not the family relations counselor or family relations caseworker, the judicial authority may order compensation for the services rendered in accordance with the established Judicial Branch fee schedule.

Committee Notes

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 998.)