Inside the Guardian ad Litem Process: A Conversation with Jim Holmes | Lawyers Without Billboards - EP 32

What exactly does a Guardian ad Litem do - and how do they shape custody cases in Georgia?In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, the Shewmaker & Lewis team sits down with longtime mentor, mediator, and guardian ad litem Jim Holmes to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in family law.From how guardians are selected to what “best interest of the child” really means, Jim shares decades of insight, humor, and hard-won experience from hundreds of cases. The team dives into what makes a great guardian, why judges trust certain ones over others, and how lawyers should (and shouldn’t) interact with them.Whether you’re an attorney, a parent, or just curious how custody decisions are made, this conversation sheds light on a crucial—but often unseen—part of the courtroom process.🎙️ Hosts: Steve Shewmaker, Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy Lewis, Alexa Lewis 👨‍⚖️ Guest: Jim Holmes, Guardian ad Litem, Mediator, and Of Counsel to Shewmaker & LewisHosted by Shewmaker & Lewis - Atlanta-based attorneys helping families navigate divorce, custody, and criminal defense with zero billboards and zero BS.📍 Chapters00:00 — Welcome and introduction 01:00 — Meet guest Jim Holmes 04:00 — What is a Guardian ad Litem? 08:00 — Representing the child’s best interests 10:30 — How guardians are chosen (and who really picks them) 13:00 — Judges, guardians, and credibility 16:00 — Why hearsay rules don’t apply to guardians 18:30 — When you need (and don’t need) a guardian 20:00 — Bias, experience, and collaboration in GAL work 25:00 — How guardians investigate cases 28:00 — When judges disagree with the guardian’s recommendation 30:00 — Tips for attorneys working with guardians 36:00 — Final thoughts from Jim Holmes👉 Have a question or topic idea? Visit shewmakerandlewis.com🔗 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.📺 Video version on YouTube: https://studio.youtube.com/video/aGUoteDzLUQ/edit 📩 Contact: [email protected]🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions🎥 Produced by Rob Burgner at Bleeding Edge in Atlanta, GA