What Are Court Appointed Special Advocates?
Court appointed special advocates are people appointed by a judge in a court of law to represent the interests of a person who is unable to represent his or her own interests. In other words, a special advocate speaks for someone who cannot speak for himself, giving that person a legal voice. It is common for the court to appoint an advocate in child custody cases or incapacity hearings. When a court case occurs, every person whose interests are affected is supposed to have a voice. This is true in every country that provides basic human rights protections. In the United States, for example, the right to have a voice in court is guaranteed in the Constitution under the Due Process Clause, which stipulates that no person may be deprived of life, liberty or the pursuit of justice without due process of the law.
