LRGAL 1.3
                     Review of Complaint


Upon receipt of a written complaint, the Superior Court
Administrator shall convene the Complaint Review Committee
with ten (10) business days to review the complaint.  Upon
review of the complaint, the Committee shall either:

   A. Make a finding that the complaint is with regard to a
      case then pending in the court and decline to review the
      complaint and so inform the complainant.  In such instances
      the Committee shall advise the complainant that the
      complaint may only be addressed in the context of the case
      at bar, either by seeking the removal of the guardian ad
      litem or by contesting the information or recommendation
      contained in the guardian ad litem’s report or testimony.
      In such cases the Committee and its members shall perform
      its role in such a manner as to assure that the trial judge
      or court commissioner remains uninformed as to the
      complaint; or

   B. Make a finding that the complaint has no merit on it’s
      face, and decline to review it and so inform the complaining
      party; or

   C. Make a finding that the complaint does appear to have
      merit and request a written response from the guardian ad
      litem within ten (10) business day, detailing the specific
      issues in the complaint to which the committee desires a response.
      The Committee shall provide the guardian ad litem with
      a copy of the original complaint.  A guardian ad
      litem’s failure to respond within the required ten
      (10) business days shall result in the immediate
      suspension of the guardian ad litem from all
      registries.  In considering whether the complaint
      has merit, the Committee shall consider whether
      the complaint alleges the guardian ad litem has:

      1.  Violated the Rules of Professional Conduct;

      2.  Misrepresented his or her qualifications to serve as a
          guardian ad litem;

      3.  Not met the annual training requirements set forth in
          the Registry requirements;

      4.  Breached the confidentiality of the parties;

      5.  Falsified information in a report to the Court or in
          testimony before the Court;

      6.  Failed to report abuse of a child;

      7.  Communicated with the a judge/commissioner ex-parte,
          except as allowed by (such as an emergency restraining order);

      8.  Purported to represent the Court in a public form
          without prior approval of the Presiding Judge;

      9.  Violated state or local laws, rules, or this policy in
          the person’s capacity as guardian ad litem;

      10. Taken or failed to take any other action which would
          reasonably place the suitability of the person to serve as
          guardian ad litem in question;

      11. Failed to keep information confidential from non-
          parties or disclosed protected information to a party;

      12. Intentionally lied or presented information in a false
          light to the Court, another party or a third party;

      13. Failed to report abuse of a child as required by RCW 26.44;

      14. Talked about a case for which the guardian ad litem was
          appointed to the media or public without the permission of
          all parties and/or the Court


[Adopted September 1, 2002]