Advocates for children should be catalysts for systemic change.
Other Collaborations
Washington Appleseed Project
TeamChild is partnering with Washington Appleseed, the ACLU of Washington, and volunteer staff and attorneys from Garvey Schubert Barer on a project identifying the nature of educational opportunities offered to suspended and expelled youth in Washington State.
Amicus Work
An amicus curiae is a Latin phrase that means “friend of the court”. Agencies and individuals who are not a party to a case may be invited or volunteer to share their perspective with the courts through a legal brief or testimony. Because of TeamChild’s expertise representing youth, we are frequently asked to participate as an amicus in cases that may affect the legal rights of children. Here are some examples of TeamChild’s recent amicus work:
Amicus Brief State v. Meneese 2011
TeamChild authored an Amicus Brief in support of the youth appellant in State v. Meneese before the Washington State Supreme Court. The case involves the legality of a search of a high school student’s backpack by a School Security Officer (SRO) in the Bellevue School District. The case is of particular concern to many of the youth TeamChild serves because of the significant increase in the use of law enforcement personnel on public school campuses over the past decade and the connections between this trend and the School to Prison Pipeline.
Amicus Brief, State v. Meneese 2011 (PDF)
Amicus Brief D.R. and A.R. case
TeamChild partnered on an amicus brief in support of the In re the Dependency of D.R. and A.R case. This case involves right to counsel issues for youth subject to dependency cases involving termination of parental rights. More information is available in the final brief.
Amicus Brief, D.R. and A.R. case (PDF)
Amicus Brief Bellevue vs E.S. 2009
TeamChild partnered on an amicus brief in 2009 for the court of appeals and subsequently for the Washington State Supreme Court appeal of the Bellevue vs. E.S. case. This case involves right to counsel issues for youth who are subject to truancy proceedings in juvenile court for missing school. More information is available in the final brief.
