The hearing continues today in Judge Walther’s San Angelo courtroom over who should represent Teresa Jeffs, daughter of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. The San Angelo Standard Times offers what I think is a good summary of the action yesterday. I don’t have any more information about this issue than is publicly available. I think, fundamentally, this is a question of fact — whether it will make a positive difference to Teresa’s case to replace Natalie Malonis as her attorney ad litem — that will have to be decided by Judge Walther.
Hearing on Teresa Jeffs’ ad litem continues in San Angelo
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I have serious doubts about the credibility of Natalie Malonis and Angie Voss.
I noticed in the article that the other attorneys declined to comment. It seems to me that most of the other AALs have refrained from commenting – unlike Ms.Malonis.
I don’t have much hope that this judge will make a fair decision either.
There’s nothing unethical about commenting on your client’s case if you believe that doing so will advance that case.
There are at least two possible reasons why the other attorneys may be keeping quiet. One is that they, in their individual cases, believe it won’t serve their clients to say anything. Another is that back at the 14-day hearing on April 17-18, the state bar president apparently (based on my conversation with one attorney in the case) threatened disciplinary action against anyone who said anything.
Malonis either didn’t hear the threat or decided to ignore it. But the fact that she did, on its own, doesn’t mean she did the wrong thing for her client.
An item has appeared in the San Angelo newspaper that an agreement on discovery has been reached. I hope that Barbara and Merrianne Jessop will be allowed to benefit.
“state bar president…”
HARPER ESTES – Texas Bar President
USA Today 4/16/2008
“Typically, each child also is given a separate hearing, but given the number of cases.. “You can’t go one-by-one,” Estes said”
“state bar president…”
HARPER ESTES – Texas Bar President
Keye TV 4/17/2008
“”What this hearing is about tomorrow is the safety of these children first and foremost… to make sure that they don’t fall between the cracks.” Estes said”
Any news? If this hearing goes as long today as it did yesterday, it’ll be 10 p.m. NY time before it breaks….
This is a bunch of horse pucky…http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5983897.html
Now Crimmins is changing his tune. Can anyone say ‘Back pedal’ – what a hypocrite.
Oh, give me a break!!
…Crimmins said the agency never intended to take the FLDS children from their parents permanently.”
“We never brought the kids into care to keep them in care. We brought them into care to do an efficient and effective investigation,” he said.
I think that is BALONEY – another CPS lie. I don’t believe it for one second.
What a crock! They acted as though they had already terminated the parents’ rights when they took them into foster care. They concocted a service plan that was purposefully vague & intentionally impossible to complete (especially so considering they also intentionally broke up sibling groups & spread them hundreds of miles apart.) Crimmins is trying to save face. Too late, sir. Save it for the lawsuits that will soon be filed against you & your pal Angie for violating the FLDS’ civil rights.
I can hardly wait for those lawsuits. I want those people held accountable for the violations, abuse and suffering!
“I want those people held accountable for the violations, abuse and suffering!”
Never happen. The state will pay, “those people” will continue with their careers or pull in retirement.
Every CPS investigation team leader was “tenured” and selected for that reason, so their notes say.
I do not recall seeing much that would make it past the immunity they have, though I do hope there is such for a few of them!
I can dream can’t I?
rikitikitavi1 { 09.04.08 at 9:10 pm } What a crock! They acted as though they had already terminated the parents’ rights when they took them into foster care
===============
They did! Remember their insisting the children be vaccinated–against the parents wishes? That wasn’t CPS’ call to make–that call still remained with the parents as long as they retained their parental rights, and at that point (and continuing to this day) they still do.
Point in fact: Not a single FLDS parent from the Eldorado ranch has had a TPR as a result of the illegal raid and abduction carried out by CPS, Sheriff Doran, Angie Voss, etc.
Not one.
Most of the children had already been vaccinated, hence their parents objecting to it happening again. There were a few who were double-vaccinated because CPS being CPS, they ignored the records provided to them by the parents. Sound familiar (think 27 year old “teen agers”)?
Natalie Malonis lied to the judge about Teresa having a child. As far as I’m concerned why not have a one-strike your out policy with these ad litems? She offended this child (I should say 17 year old woman) by jumping to conclusions about her, and even taking legal action on unproven allegations. What is so special about Natalie Malonis that she has to be chained to Teresa until she turns 18?
Judge Walther ruled against Teresa Jeffs. The fact that CPS and their CASA puppet were in court supporting the ruling shows who Natalie Malonis is really working for.
Now get this – Deseretnews.com has a story that CPS wants a ‘mulligan’ – a do over because the case is so big they can’t handle it…so they want a second chance….
Are you freaking kidding me???????
‘Hey judge, we didn’t find evidence the first time around, so give us a second chance…maybe we’ll find it this time.’
NO “Do-Overs”!!!!!
Double Jeopardy. NO WAY.
What is a TPR?
TPR = Temporary Protection Order.
A temporary protective order (TPO) is a court order to help protect you from someone who is abusing, threatening or harassing you. The order will require the abuser to stay away from you, your home and your work. The abuser will be prohibited from contacting you in any way. The court can also order the abuser to stay away from your children if the court feels they are at risk. The court can also order other kinds of relief in the TPO, such as temporary custody, support and possession of vehicles.
Getting a TPO does not mean the abuser goes to jail. The TPO makes it easier for the police to arrest the abuser for coming near you later, even if the abuser does not hurt you again.
http://www.atlantalegalaid.org/tpo.htm
Sorry, this is better : -))
Termination of Parental Rights
Commenter 2 –
Important to clarify that a TPO does NOT determine guilt. As such, it would be more fair to use the term “alleged abuser.”
K
Riki
“(think 27 year old “teen agers”)”
or the…
37 YO teenager!
TPO, TPR…
I’ve seen it called Temp. Restraining Order most often.
I guess walther ruled a big FU!
TPR = Termination of Parental Rights.
Thomas,
You said “Judge Walther ruled against Teresa Jeffs.”
It should have read “Judge Walther ruled for Teresa Jeffs.”
In other words, the Judge ruled that the AAL was doing what she was supposed to do, and that the FLDS attempt to interfere was inappropriate.
After reviewing the early information there’s no doubt in my mind that CPS’s intention was to keep the kids.
Most of this taken from TDFPS New Releases
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/News/
Ap 7- four days after the Raid
DFPS began working to locate longer term foster care living arrangements to provide the children more structure and stability.
11 Ap
Judge Barbara Walther ordered DFPS to keep all 416 children removed from the FLDS compound in the San Angelo area until a hearing on April 17, 2008. Therefore, no children will be placed into foster care before the hearing and all will remain in shelters.
14 Ap AP article
The courtroom conference was held to work out the ground rules for a court hearing beginning Thurday on the fate of the children. The state is accusing THE SECT of physically and sexually abusing the youngsters and wants to strip their parents of custody and place the children in foster care or put them up for adoption.
According to Voss, “The Sect” was the threat and she felt that due to their “beliefs”, no children were safe there.
14 Ap
DFPS will recommend to the court that all the children removed from the FLDS compound remain in state custody and be placed in foster care to prevent further abuse.
Voss concluded that the environment at the Ranch would not be safe for any of the children. Further, according to Ms Voss, it would not be safe for any of the children to be returned to the ranch, because the adults on the ranch whom she had interviewed had expressed that they are not doing anything harmful to their children and that the practice of children being united and having children is part of their culture and belief system.
CPSs (Voss’) position was stated succinctly by its lead investigator at the hearing. In reponse to an inquiry as to why the infants needed to be removed from their mothers, the investigator responded, “What I found is that they’re living under an umbrella of belief that having children at a young age is a blessing therefore any child in that environment would not be safe.”
Letter From Arrow Ministries (One of Cockerell’s favorites)
When DFPS was given temporary custody of the children at the April adversary hearing, DFPS approached us with the request that we prepare to provide long-term care for up to 100 of these children.
It wasn’t until 18 Ap that there was any mention of reunification, and then it was vague, simply stating the goal of CPS is reunification.
18 Ap
The children’s safety is our top priority. Our goal is always to reunite children with their parents if we can do so and make sure the child will be safe.
“If we can do so”. How likely in this case?
This is what they wanted and why they took all the kids.
19 Ap
[At the request of CPS]…. The Texas Attorney General’s Office is arranging for DNA testing for all the children. On Monday, teams will begin collecting DNA swabs to comply with court ordered paternity and maternity testing. It will take several days to collect all the samples. Once the samples are collected DFPS we will begin placing children in foster care.
And as late as 19 May the plan appeared to be to keep them for atleast a year.
11:17 PM CDT on Monday, May 19, 2008
By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – It will cost taxpayers $21 million to care for a polygamist sect’s children over the next year, the Health and Human Services Commission estimated Monday.
Foster-care payments for more than 450 youngsters removed because of possible child abuse at the group’s Eldorado ranch will cost nearly $1 million a month, commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said.