"I Don't Even Know Where to Begin"

Denver DHS Attorney's Opening Statement at September 1 Custody Hearing Says Everything

567 NEWS | Denver, CO | September 1, 2026

That was the opening. Seven words. From the attorney representing the Denver Department of Human Services, in open court, before a sitting juvenile court judge, after 890 days of active litigation against a father fighting to bring his daughter home.

Samuel McDowell, Assistant City Attorney for Denver, stood before Judge Lisa Marie Gomez in Division 2E of Denver Juvenile Court this morning and said: "I don't even know where to begin."

He is the attorney for the agency that has had 890 days to begin.

What Was in That Room

Justin Kirscht, respondent father in Case No. 24JV30195, argued five of eight prepared talking points directly from the floor today — not through counsel. He held the floor multiple times. He argued the Least Restrictive Environment motion directly, over his own attorney's attempts to redirect him, and was not opposed after he took it.

He referenced CASCADE — a documented framework mapping systemic failures in the case — while every adversary in the room struggled to keep pace. Judge Gomez did not. She thanked him for his confidence in her ability to see it through.

Court watchers were present and visible. The judge noticed. Her affect changed when she saw them.

This is what 890 days of documentation looks like when it finally has a room.

The Therapist and the Credential

Today's hearing produced a second disclosure that goes beyond this case.

Kenny Le, the reintegration therapist assigned to Lyriq's case through the Griffith Center, had previously told Justin Kirscht on a recorded call that he holds a Master's degree in Psychology.

Today, in open court, Judge Gomez asked Le directly about his credentials.

Le admitted his Master's degree is in Arts and Counseling — not Psychology.

That recording exists. It predates today's admission. Andrew Schoedel, Kirscht's ORPC counsel, demanded Le's full case notes in open court today. Those notes — assessments, observations, and recommendations in an active dependency case — were written by a clinician who misrepresented his professional credentials to a party in that case.

A DORA license pull is pending.

What the Judge Asked For

Judge Gomez left today's hearing with two direct requests on the record.

First: the email chain showing Kirscht provided his doctors' names, specialties, and hospital affiliations to DHS and GAL. He sent those emails. He copied the parties. Nobody called a single physician.

Second: a calendar review, specifically the dates relevant to the LRE motion — hearing dates scheduled into documented postictal recovery windows, the reintegration referral timeline, and when the LRE motion was filed, argued, and left pending.

A judge asking these questions from the bench is a judge who has read the record and wants the parts that were never answered.

890 Days

Three caseworkers assigned. Three departures, no transition plans. A reintegration referral misrepresented as complete at the June 10 hearing. A treatment plan written by a caseworker who never met the father. ADA accommodations requested and never provided. Virtual visits ordered by the court, ignored for 13 consecutive weeks.

And today, the attorney representing the agency responsible for all of it walked into that courtroom and opened with seven words.

"I don't even know where to begin."

Neither do we, Mr. McDowell. Neither do we.

Case No. 24JV30195 | Denver Juvenile Court, Division 2E | Judge Lisa Marie Gomez Follow this case: LyriqNeedsHerDadBack | justscan567.wixstudio.com/lyriqnhdb 567 NEWS covers family court accountability in Colorado.