Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Professor Timothy Pinto, ’97, to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.
Pinto is a clinical professor in the Legal Practice Program. He also co-teaches the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic, which addresses termination of parental rights cases.
“I’m honored to receive this appointment and excited for the opportunity to contribute to such important work,” Pinto said. “When we created the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic 13 years ago, I was still learning the complexities of Michigan’s child welfare system. Since then, I’ve come to see both how much room there is for improvement and how challenging meaningful reform can be.”
Before joining the Law School faculty, Pinto spent four years as a litigation associate at Winston & Strawn in Chicago. He also spent four years as a staff attorney and four years as general counsel for the US Soccer Federation in Chicago.
The Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect is a multidisciplinary task force operating under the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The task force consists of 18 members appointed for three-year terms who are professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities.
Pinto was appointed to represent attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect, including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many dedicated people who are committed to improving outcomes for children and families,” Pinto said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on a larger role in that effort. I’m especially grateful that this appointment allows me to bring the perspective of our clinic to these discussions.”