Chief Justice Mark Martin recently addressed a group of over 100 Guardian ad Litem staff from across the state at a meeting in Raleigh. The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2018. Celebratory events are being held in various regions throughout the state this year to mark this major milestone.

"Today and throughout this year, we celebrate you, our attorney advocates, and, obviously, our volunteers for all that you do, individually and collectively," said Chief Justice Martin. "Most of all, I celebrate the heart and the spirit with which you do it."

Established by statute in 1983, the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program has been serving abused and neglected children for 35 years.

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child, who has full party status in trial and appellate proceedings. All Guardian ad Litem advocates are trained, supervised, and supported by program staff in each county of the state. The collaborative model of GAL attorney advocates, volunteers, and staff ensures that all North Carolina children who are alleged by the Division of Social Services to have been abused or neglected receive GAL legal advocacy services.

"We have one of the strongest court appointed special advocate programs in the country," said Cindy Bizzell, administrator of the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem program. "The work of our volunteer GALs helps the court make the best decision possible in the lives of vulnerable North Carolina children."

A Brief History of Guardian ad Litem

1983
Guardian ad Litem is established in the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts by the General Assembly. (N.C.G.S. 7B-1200)

1994
Guardian ad Litem completes the 1983 mandate to have a GAL Program in each judicial district. From the coast to the mountains, the program has staff and volunteers in all 39 judicial districts.

2000
Guardian ad Litem staff create a manual designed to encourage best practices within the program.

2003
Guardian ad Litem celebrates 20 years of advocating for abused and neglected children in the court system. At this time, the program has more than 3,800 GAL volunteers and attorneys serving more than 15,700 children.

2010
For the first time, Guardian ad Litem reaches the milestone of having 5,000 volunteers.

2013
Guardian ad Litem celebrates 30 years of advocacy.

2016
Guardian ad Litem once again reaches the milestone of having over 5,000 volunteers.

2017
Guardian ad Litem provides for the best interest for a record 18,083 children.

2018
Guardian ad Litem celebrates 35 years of advocacy.

About N.C. Guardian ad Litem
The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem equips and trains community volunteers to serve as independent court advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused and neglected children and youths by advocating for their best interests. The Office of Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Services is a division of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Pursuant to G.S. 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child, who has full party status in trial and appellate proceedings.

Could you be the voice for a child?
In 2017, more than 2,400 abused and neglected children and youth in North Carolina went to court without someone to advocate just for them. Volunteer to become a Guardian ad Litem Advocate and be the voice for a child.