Page 62

Local Rules of Superior Court of California, County of Imperial

advocate to any such record holder in support otherwise participate in any of his or her request for access to specific chambers’ conference, the advocate records. No consent from the parent or shall have the right to accompany the guardian is necessary for the advocate to have child. An advocate shall not be access to any records relating to child. subject to exclusion by virtue of the fact that he or she may be called to [Adopted January 1, 2011] testify at some point in the proceedings.Rule 6.2.7 Report of Child Abuse

(c) An advocate shall not be deemed toAn advocate is a mandated child abuse
be a “party” as described in Title 3 ofreporter with respect to the case to which he
Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.or she is appointed. As such, an advocate is
However, the Court, in its discretion,required to report any reasonable suspicion
shall have the authority to grant thethat the child is a victim of child abuse or
advocate amicus curiae status, whichserious neglect as described by Penal Code
includes the right to appear withSection 273.
counsel.

[Adopted January 1, 2011] [Adopted January 1, 2011] Rule 6.2.8 Communication Rule 6.2.10 Access to Records There shall be ongoing, regular (a) All information concerning childrencommunication concerning the child’s best and families in the Juvenile Courtinterests, current status, and significant case process is confidential. An advocatedevelopments maintained among the shall not give case information toadvocate, the social worker, the child’s anyone other than the Court, parties,attorney (if any), attorneys for parents, their attorneys, and CASA staffrelatives (to the extent permitted by law), except as may be ordered by thefoster parents (to the extent permitted by Court. Any request for access to theselaw), and any therapist for the child. records by a non-party must be made [Adopted January 1, 2011] to the Presiding Juvenile Court judge through a Petition for Disclosure of Rule 6.2.9 Right to Timely Notice and Juvenile Court Records pursuant to Right to Timely Appear Welfare and Institutions Code sections 827 and 828 (Form JV-570). (a) An advocate shall be provided proper (b) The child’s case file shall be and timely notice for all proceedings maintained in the Imperial County held in cases to which the advocate CASA office by a custodian of has been appointed. records. No one shall have access to that file except upon approval of the (b) An advocate has the right to be CASA program director. All records personally present at all hearings and will be kept for a minimum of five (5) to be heard at all Court hearings. The years and appropriately destroyed, advocate shall have the right to pursuant to Welfare and Institutions participate in any chambers’ Code section 826(a). conferences which are held in the proceedings to which the advocate (c) An advocate’s personnel file is has been appointed. If the child is confidential. No one shall have access allowed to testify in chambers or to to the file or any of its contents except 55