Court Appointed Special Advocates

In her current position as a mediator and arbitrator with Miles Mediation and Arbitration Services, Judge Patricia Stone specializes in civil and domestic litigation cases. Over the course of her legal career, Judge Patricia Stone has trained other legal professionals and volunteers in a variety of areas, including volunteers for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization for whom she served as an ex officio board member. 

CASA promotes volunteer advocacy for every child involved in the court system due to abuse or neglect. Court appointed CASA volunteers support and guide children through the legal system, including social services and foster care, advocating for their best interests throughout the process until the child’s case is resolved and they’re living in a safe and healthy home environment. 

CASA is a large organization; in 2015 alone, over 250,000 mistreated and traumatized children were helped by more than 76,000 volunteers nationwide.

Since its creation in 1977 by a family court, CASA has been one of the most effective programs working in this area of the law. Research shows that children who have been appointed a volunteer advocate spend significantly less time in long-term foster care and are additionally less likely to reenter care.