Child Rights & Remedies: How the US Legal System Affects Children

Child Rights and Remedies provides a comprehensive examination of how United States law and policy affects the lives and futures of children. This law school text covers a broad spectrum of major cases, statutes, and relevant empirical evidence that illustrate how children are faring in light of how our legal and political systems function. Uniquely among juvenile law texts, Child Rights and Remedies begins by delving into the underlying political context of available remedies for children, highlighting the special status of children – a status that does not always work to their advantage, particularly vis a vis special interests with far greater access to and influence over all branches of government. Within this context, the text explores the barriers to developing policy favorable to children with regard to poverty, education, health, special needs, child care, child abuse, juvenile delinquency, reproductive rights, custody and civil liberties. This updated edition also explores the timely issue of immigration and the rights of children, a politically charged area of law and policy deeply impacting vast numbers of children. In addition to the almost 200 legal references that cover major federal and influential state court decisions, the text contains probing questions and commentary designed to challenge the reader to consider diverse points of view and construct compelling legal arguments. Broad analysis of constitutional law and civil procedure complements the child-specific content, making Child Rights and Remedies a valuable tool for any student of the law. For those concerned about the well-being of children in this country and beyond, this text is an essential guide for powerfully advocating for their rights and representing their interests.

Robert C. Fellmeth is Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy Institute. He holds the Price Chair in Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego and has authored or contributed to 14 books. Fellmeth has argued 40 reported appellate cases. He serves on the Board of the Partnership for America's Children, also serving as treasurer and counsel. He has served on the Board of the National Association of Counsel for Children from 1994 to 2018 and on the Board of Public Citizen in D.C. since 1996. He is a graduate of Stanford University (AB) and Harvard University (JD).

Jessica K. Heldman holds the Fellmeth-Peterson Chair in Child Rights at the University of San Diego. She served as Associate Executive Director at the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice where she guided the development of child welfare and juvenile justice law, policy, and practice. She has authored several guidebooks and articles on child welfare and juvenile justice reform and consulted for organizations including the Child Welfare League of America and Georgetown University. She is a graduate of Northwestern University (BS) and the University of San Diego (JD).