Stephanie Villafuerte, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, fears that abused and neglected children, who already lack trust in adults, will be unwilling to confide in their attorneys. She was quoted as saying: “Kids are going to be mortified.”
However, Linda Weinerman, executive director of the Office of the Child's Representative, is of the opinion that the ruling validates the approach her office already practices. She was quoted as saying: “I'd tell kids I'm representing you and I will not tell things you don't want me to tell unless I think they are things that will affect your safety. My job is to protect your safety.”
Without this crucial testimony, the prosecutors essentially had no case and the charges were dismissed. However, the case was appealed.
Jeff Koy, an attorney at the Children's Law Center, was quoted as saying: “We looked at is as, it's better for children in Colorado to at least give them an outlet where they can talk about things and then the (guardian ad litem) can take steps to protect the child. But there is major tension between having that information and not being able to do what you feel is best for your client.”
According to information at the organization's website, “the mission of the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative is to provide Colorado's children involved in the court system with competent and effective legal representation.” In addition, the OCR provides support and training to attorneys who represent children in the state. As well, the OCR serves as an advocate for public policy issues regarding children and their families.
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center is to “change the lives of abused and neglected children through compassionate legal advocacy, education and public policy reform,” according to information at the center's website.
