Christensen

The Orange County Superior Court, pursuant to a local policy, ordered Susan Christensen to deposit her children’s compro mise funds in accounts without fixed maturity dates, to remain there until the children reach the age of majority. Christensen appeals the court’s order and, necessarily, the local policy underlying it.

I

On April 22, 1984, the Christensen children sustained minor injuries in an automobile accident. Christensen and the driver of the other vehicle agreed to settle the children’s claims.

Christensen petitioned the court for approval of the compromises. She also asked the court to excuse her from the local policy requiring minors’ funds be deposited in accounts without fixed maturity dates. Instead she requested authorization to deposit the funds in two-year certificate of deposit accounts at an interest rate of 10.026 percent, as opposed to the 5.5 percent rate then available for a demand savings account.

At a hearing on June 4, 1985, the court approved the children’s compromises, but denied Christensen’s request to deposit the funds in two-year certificate of deposit accounts. The court suggested the funds be deposited in money market accounts with…