As child welfare workers reasoned, the justification for removing so many children was clear cut in the face of teen pregnancies and abuse reports. But the lawyers who mobilized to represent the children quickly learned that the truth for individual children and families was more complex.

“It’s a great lawyers’ case because no one is all right, and it will take a long time for the lawyers to sort it out,” said Susan L. Hays, a Dallas solo who joined the massive attorney ad litem effort.

Photo of Susan L. Hays by Dennis Murphy.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2018 to correct the spelling of Susan Hays.