 Bob had the privilege of
sheparding this new Child Representation Law into existence.
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Illinois New
Child Representative Law
Increasingly courts throughout the world are experiencing great benefit
through the use of court-appointed Child Representatives, typically referred to as either
a Guardian Ad Litem or Attorney for the Child. Illinois has made increasing use of this
means to bring cases under control where children’s interests are concerned and one
or both parties (or their attorneys) are spinning out of control. As a vehicle for case
management as well as protecting interests of children in a particular case, the
child’s representative is emerging as a significant means to reduce both the cost and
trauma of custody and visitation litigation.
In 1998, Mr. Downs as the only exclusively Family Law practicing member of the Board of
Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association, brought into being a task force to
examine Illinois’ divorce statutes regarding representing children. The product was
legislation which took effect January 1, 2000, which much more precisely defined the role
of the Child Representative, made provisions for such persons receive training in the
specialized areas of child development and techniques in representing children. The new
law introduces a refined concept of the appointment called neither a Guardian nor
Attorney, but officially "Child Representative," with specifically defined
powers.
As a result of this legislation our Judicial Circuits throughout the State of Illinois are
putting on training programs which will significantly elevate the sensitivity of how
children’s issues are handled in the courts and a lessening of the trauma which is
inflicted upon them daily.
In 2000, Mr. Downs convened a new statewide special Committee to gather and organize
training materials and resources to the end that the training programs will be meaningful
and that attorneys who take on this most important role have readily available and
practical access to the tools and information they need.
Mr. Downs’ is often appointed as either Guardian, Attorney for the Child or, Child
Representative in disputed custody and visitation cases in Cook County, Illinois. His
experience and knowledge enables his firm to take on the toughest custody cases with a
realistic and sensitive approach that truly works in "the best interests of the
child."
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