Faith, Homeschooling, and the Impact on Families
By Mallory Scott The ability to freely worship is one of the fundamental aspects of the American national identity. However, a fine line exists between enthusiastic practice and severe overcommitment to a religion that may eventually become dangerous behavior. Adults can choose how, when, and which faction of faith to practice, but the children in […]
Mandatory Reporting Statutes – The Role of Teachers as Abusers & Abuse Reporters
By Marcus Risinger and Mallory Scott The role of a teacher is to act “in loco parentis,” or in place of the parent, while children are under their care in the school setting. In some cases, a teacher must take on protective responsibilities beyond the scope of this role to report child abuse or harmful […]
Understanding Arizona’s Juvenile Emancipation Statutes
By Brad TenBrook and Mallory Scott What motivates a child to become an emancipated minor? The most common example that comes to mind is probably the child actor or performer with substantial assets, hoping to break away from parental interference. However, seeking emancipation does not guarantee clear-cut results, as parents still have a right to […]
Applying Emancipation to Working Minors and “Kidfluencers”
By Mallory Scott Although the issue of emancipation versus parental involvement has evolved to include a new set of circumstances in the social media influencing space, the core issue is the same: If a minor can work in the same capacity as an adult, then how many adult freedoms are they entitled to outside of […]
Munchausen Syndrome in the Digital Age
Recently, there was an article in the national news titled: “What Could Lead to a Mother Catfishing Her Own Daughter?” Missing from this intriguing headline was the complex psychological framework surrounding the incident referenced, wherein a Michigan mother was charged for her role in a cyber version of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP), known as […]
The DCS and Criminal Investigation Dilemma
Originally published in the Maricopa County Bar Association Criminal Law Newsletter Spring 2023 edition on March 21, 2023. By Sabra Barnett and Isabel Ranney As criminal defense attorneys, we understand the importance of ensuring out clients do not make incriminating statements. When in doubt, we are quick to advise our clients to invoke their 5th […]
Knapp: How Private Attorneys Can Help Public Defenders
By Sabra Barnett and Isabel Ranney You just have to watch a few Law and Order: SVU episodes to know the that when someone is arrested, they are read Miranda warnings. While the 100 words in Miranda are all valuable, “the right to an attorney” and that, “if you cannot afford one, one will be […]
Adoption, Visitation, and Undoing Sheets v. Mead
This article was initially published in the Arizona Attorney magazine on February 1, 2023. By Markus Risinger, Taylor Young, and Isabel Ranney When construing a statue, judges can be quick to shift responsibility to the legislative branch. Many litigators have heard from the bench that their argument is with the Legislature, not the Court. This […]
Fast-Tracked Termination: What is Happening in Arizona
By Woodnick Law Once a child is born, its parents are endowed with a “fundamental right to parent.” This means that like other fundamental rights (e.g. right to privacy, right to marry), there is a higher scrutiny placed on any attempts to interfere with that right and the presumption is that the right will remain […]
Racial Disparity in Arizona DCS Investigations Receives National Attention
By Woodnick Law, PLLC Conscious or unconscious, racial bias affects all aspects of life. The caseworkers and child welfare investigators (OCWIs) that make up the Department of Child Safety (DCS) are not immune from these biases. A recent article from ProPublica, which has received national attention, addresses how these biases have culminated in a disproportionate […]