Worn out by the work

Julie Balovich was so wiped out by 8 p.m. on June 2, she said on Monday night, she could barely put thoughts together, much less chart her legal strategy. The Texas RioGrande Legal Aid staff attorney had spent the whole day helping return to parents more than 460 children, who state authorities had seized in April in an investigation of possible sexual abuse at an isolated West Texas polygamist community. "I don't think I can even think today about what I'm going to do tomorrow," said Balovich. She represented some 48 mothers who won the return of the sect's children by seeking a ruling from the Supreme Court of Texas. Although Balovich was too fatigued to articulate all her plans, she did say that, with all the bureaucratic chaos Monday of matching offspring to parents, she didn't manage to get all the children back home. She expected more reunions Tuesday. The battle between the state and the ranch parents is far from over. Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner has told reporters the state continues to investigate abuse allegations. In ordering the children returned home, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther also ruled that the families submit to surprise home visits by CPS caseworkers and possible psychiatric evaluations of the children, as well as refrain from travel outside Texas. "I'll probably be able to talk about what I'm doing by tomorrow [Tuesday] night," says Balovich.
-- Miriam Rozen

Comments

[Jane Hackney, Mesquite]

Another plea from a grandmother. My daughter had her two children taken today
from my home by city of Mesquite police and Dallas County Constable at Dallas
County CPS instigation. The investigator as much as said she'd gotten a court
order, because we would not open the door when she can by twice this month.
She had to "investigate" my grandbabies' welfare.

We gotten the oldest back a couple of month ago from them placing him with my
x-husband in different county. There was never any court actions or lawyers ;
just CPS with there so called safety plan. It was usually from month to month
until the x decided my daughter had to come back to my house to live because he
didn't want her to go back with her boyfriend. He kept the baby boy. The last
safety plan expired 11/9/07. We never after that got anything else in writing.

Where can I find any lawyer to help us. They said this time there would be
court actions. They are using the excuse of failure to thrive.

I have not been able to find any lawyer to take a case against CPS and I can
barely make ends meet now without any legal fees. Legal aid will not even look
at your request against CPS.

Please Please HELP ME SOMEONE

[John Cohen]

Kudos Julie Balovich and the legal staff of TRGLA.You have done this country and the state of Texas a tremendous service.Take a breath. Plenty of time to prepare the federal civil rights lawsuit against DPS and the others who will take any opportunity to set precedents and whittle away at the Bill of Rights.

[Jay Herron]

Julie Balovich is a true hero! I am thankful for her to have brought justice to a wrong terrible wrong scene of government failing to respect the Consitution-you are a hero Julie Balovich.