^^ The standard was set in Obergefell when they said that children are parties that derive direct benefits from the marriage contract. Read the third tier of Obergefell's rationale partner.
This is interesting, you might want to read up on it mdk. Comes from the State of California in 2015 about a civil case on placing dependent children in a marriage situation that was in turmoil. Important to take away is that in a case where children have a weighty stake, this is what the court and the State of CA have to say:
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/BTB_23_5E_1.pdf (page 1-2)
Separate counsel are appointed for the mother, father, and the children... 2. Competency. What does it mean to be "competent" to handle dependency cases? California Rule of Court 5.660(d)(1)-(6) states: "(d) Competent counsel--Every party in a dependency proceeding who is represented by an attorney is entitled to competent counsel. (1) Definition - "Competent counsel" means an attorney who is a member in good standing of the State Bar of California, who has participated in training in the law of juvenile dependency, and who demonstrates adequate forensic skills, knowledge and comprehension of the statutory scheme, the purposes and goals of dependency proceedings, the specific statutes, rules of court, and cases relevant to such proceedings, and procedures for filing petitions for extraordinary writs....
(4) Standards of representation - Attorneys or their agents are expected to meet regularly with clients, including clients who are children, regardless of the age of the child or the child's ability to communicate verbally, to contact social workers and other professionals associated with the client's case, to work with other counsel and the court to resolve disputed aspects of a case without contested hearing, and to adhere to the mandated timelines. The attorney for the child must have sufficient contact with the child to establish and maintain an adequate and professional attorney-client relationship. The attorney for the child is not required to assume the responsibilities of a social worker and is not expected to perform service for the child that are unrelated to the child's legal representation.
I'll ask again: what are the names of the separate counsel appointed or invited to brief the court on behalf of children in the case where two lesbians seek to force adoption agencies to place dependent children into their lifelong contract which banishes said children from a father?
More:
(pages 4-5)
...a competent attorney should have an understanding of the role of the social worker; visitation related issues, including bonding and attachment; ICWA, and culturally appropriate services; addiction and treatment, including drug use and abuse; drug testing types, procedures and protocol, including the interpretation of test results; mental illness, including dual diagnosis issues, diagnosis of mental illness, an understanding psychological evaluations and the tests; trauma and the effects on children, and domestic violence in the home; childhood development; schools and special education requirements; CASA; ...(etc etc)
Who is the competent child attorney appointed in Dumont v Lyon with regard to contractual banishment for life from a father and its predicted effects on any child placed in that home by force from unwilling adoption agencies?