In re N.M.

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Juvenile Court Act
Citation
Case Number: 
2014 IL App (4th) 131281
Decision Date: 
Thursday, April 17, 2014
District: 
4th Dist.
Division/County: 
Champaign Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed in part and vacated in part.
Justice: 
HOLDER WHITE
Court erred by ordering DCFS employees to appear at all juvenile court hearings even where DCFS had assigned private-agency caseworkers to the minors' cases. Per plain language of Juvenile Court Act, court must make an individualized finding that DCFS's appearance is in best interests of the particular minor before requiring DCFS's appearance at hearings. Trial courts are entitled, as required by Act, to have appearing before them private-agency caseworkers who have personal and thorough knowledge of facts of case.(TURNER and HARRIS, concurring.)