• 5 years ago
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    Immigrant toddlers ordered to appear in court alone https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/27/immigrant-toddlers-ordered-appear-court-alone/

    “We were representing a 3-year-old in court recently who had been separated from the parents. And the child — in the middle of the hearing — started climbing up on the table,” said Lindsay Toczylowski, executive director of Immigrant Defenders Law Center in Los Angeles. “It really highlighted the absurdity of what we’re doing with these kids.”

    “The parent might be the only one who knows why they fled from the home country, and the child is in a disadvantageous position to defend themselves,” Toczylowski said.

    Leaders at three legal services organizations and a private firm confirmed that the children are being served with notices to appear in court. They are not entitled to an attorney but rather are given a list of legal services organizations that might help them.

    Steve Lee, a UCLA child psychology professor, said expecting the children to advocate for themselves in court is an “incredibly misaligned expectation.”

    “That couldn’t be any less developmentally appropriate,” he said, adding that some children may not be mature enough to verbalize a response.
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      Editing … Is this real life? O_o I honestly can't tell any more
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    • WoodrowShigeru
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      WoodrowShigeru
      Editing … "In a surprising turn of events the defendant – a 3-year old toddler – successfully won the trial against all odds, forcing the prosecution to pay $3.4 million USD."
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