As a practical matter, the appointment may be outside of your professional liability insurance. We have raised that when our judges mention appointing us to civil matters.

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From: chiefdefenders@pdap.simplelists.com <chiefdefenders@pdap.simplelists.com> on behalf of Jasmin Smith <jsmith@snydercounty.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 6, 2024 4:21:19 PM
To: chiefdefenders@pdap.simplelists.com <chiefdefenders@pdap.simplelists.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - Re: GAL appointment

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Would the appointing judge be open to having a discussion about appointments to the office and when it should be an appointment from the private bar? If not I'm not sure the ICC rep creates a conflict, but maybe a motion requesting appointment from the bar as GAL is very specifically a civil role for civil matters and the PDs office addresses criminal matters only and/or limited resources to adequately perform the investigative role of GAL ?

I find that judges often forget that their powers to appoint are not limited to public counsel, but in also in a small county where I can simply discuss the matter with my PJ in chambers.

Jasmin A. Smith, Esq. (She/Her)
Chief Public Defender
Snyder County Public Defenders
570-837-4283
Jsmith@snydercounty.org<mailto:Jsmith@snydercounty.org>

On Sun, Oct 6, 2024 at 2:23 PM Semple, Rose <rose.semple@co.washington.pa.us<mailto:rose.semple@co.washington.pa.us>> wrote:
One of our judges recently appointed us as GAL for a woman in her civil PFA matter. We represented her in the ICC, which was dismissed because she was found incompetent and spent 6 months in jail getting competency restoration. It was never restored so we were annle to get it dismissed. Our appearance is still in on the ICC, so I’m thinking about just trying to withdraw as a conflict. Does anyone have recommendations? We don’t have the staff to take on more responsibilities.

Rose Semple, Esq.

Washington County Chief Public Defender

95 W. Beau St. Suite 500, Washington, PA 15301<https://www.google.com/maps/search/95+W.+Beau+St.+Suite+500,+Washington,+PA+15301?entry=gmail&source=g>

rose.semple@co.washington.pa.us<mailto:rose.semple@co.washington.pa.us>

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