On July 5, 2022, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a published favorable opinion in Winston-Salem partner Carrie Hanger’s pro bono representation of neglected children through the NC Guardian ad Litem (GAL) appellate advocacy program of the NC Administrative Office of the Courts.
The GAL appellate advocates represent the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in appeals following the termination of parental rights, placement in guardianship, and other juvenile matters.
The appeal arose from the termination of parental rights on the grounds of (1) neglect under N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1) and (2) willful failure to leave the children in foster care or placement outside the home for more than 12 months without showing reasonable progress of correcting the conditions that led to removal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2). The children had been removed from their mother’s care due to neglect on three separate occasions. After arguing…
