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Juvenile Law Update District Court Judges’ Conference June 17, 2004

This article discusses the effect of appeals on the trial court in juvenile law cases, including issues related to jurisdiction, guardian ad litem, procedure, evidence, sufficiency of evidence and findings, abuse of discretion, and other related topics.

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Juvenile Law Update District Court Judges’ Conference June 17, 2004

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  1. Juvenile Law UpdateDistrict Court Judges’ ConferenceJune 17, 2004 Janet Mason Institute of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  2. CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES

  3. Effect of appeals on trial court • Jurisdiction • GAL and attorney for parent • Procedure 5. Evidence, admissibility 6. Sufficiency of evidence 7. Sufficiency of findings • Abuse of discretion

  4. Effect of Appeals on the Trial Court ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

  5. If an adjudication, disposition, or review order is on appeal, can the trial court proceed to terminate parental rights?

  6. Is this an issue about: *Statutory Interpretation? *Jurisdiction? *Due Process/Fairness?

  7. Answers May Come From • N.C. Supreme Court In re N.B., appeal pending • General Assembly

  8. 2. JURISDICTION ISSUES

  9. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION Findings of fact must support a conclusion of law that the court has subject matter jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.

  10. STANDING DSS can petition for termination of parental rights only if: • DSS has court-ordered custody of the child, or • One parent has surrendered the child to DSS for adoption.

  11. PERSONAL JURISDICTION A parent can waive the defenses of • Jurisdiction over the person • Insufficiency of process • Insufficiency of service of process

  12. 3. GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND ATTORNEY FOR PARENT

  13. TRUE – FALSE • The court must appoint a guardian ad litem for the parent any time “dependency” is alleged. • Communications between the parent and guardian ad litem are privileged. • An indigent parent must ask for counsel before the day of the hearing?

  14. 4. PROCEDURE

  15. Entry of orders within 30 days. • Insufficient recording/transcript • Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children • Consolidating adjudication and disposition hearings

  16. 5. EVIDENCEJudge Rubin

  17. Mashburn: no reversible evidence error • Not hearsay • Error, but not prejudicial • Combination of medical exception and business records exception Appeal pending in court of appeals.

  18. 6. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

  19. “Where no evidence is presented at an adjudicatory hearing, the trial court cannot make findings of fact based on clear and convincing evidence.”

  20. Where no evidence is presented, the trial court cannot make findings of fact. • “A trial court may not find as fact that which was not presented as evidence at trial.”

  21. 7. SUFFICIENCY OF THE FINDINGS

  22. Findings Sufficient – Neglect of Newborn • Court’s determination is predictive • Court must consider historical information • Court decides what weight to give to evidence of prior neglect of another child

  23. Findings Sufficient – Neglect by Incarcerated Parent • Parent’s failure to • write or call • seek contact with child • attempt to show love or affection • inquire about child’s welfare • send gift or acknowledgement on child’s birthday

  24. SUFFICIENCY OFEVIDENCE AND FINDINGS

  25. Nonsupport Ground for Termination Sufficient (with dissent): Father • worked continuously while incarcerated • earned $ .40 to $1.00 per day • paid 0 for six months

  26. Nonsupport Ground for Termination Insufficient: No specific evidence or findings about • employment • earnings • other financial means during relevant 6-month period

  27. Before ceasing reunification efforts, must have evidence & findings that: • efforts would be futile, or • parent’s rights to another child were terminated, or • a court has determined that the parent • has subjected child to aggravated circumstances or • has committed one of certain crimes against a child.

  28. Ground for termination or for ceasing reunification efforts: • Parent has committed a felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child, another child of the parent, or other child residing in the home • Defined in GS 14-318.4(a3) • More serious than serious physical injury

  29. Dispositional Findings • Adjudication alone is not sufficient basis for placing child in DSS custody. • Must have evidence and findings to support a conclusion that the disposition is in the child’s best interest.

  30. Major Pitfalls • Failure to reference statute • Reciting evidence or testimony • Reciting allegations in the petition • Wholesale incorporation of written reports

  31. 8. ABUSE OF DISCRETION

  32. Abuse, Neglect, Dependency • Disposition order must contain appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law. • Appellate court will not disturb if there is some evidence to support the findings and the findings support the conclusion.

  33. Termination • At disposition the court has discretion to terminate parental rights consistent with the child’s best interests. • After finding a ground, the court may not dismiss without making findings and conclusions.

  34. OTHER ISSUES • Putative father’s consent to adoption • Denial of visitation • Discovery of confidential information

  35. DELINQUENT JUVENILES • Variance in petition • In-custody interrogation • Waiver of juvenile rights • Probation that requires admission –”classic penalty”

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