in Interest of A.M , 2021 CO 14 ( 2021 )

practice for trial courts to do so; and that the court of appeals failed to apply the
correct legal standard and, instead, substituted its judgment for that of the trial court.
Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed.
The Supreme Court of the State of Colorado
2 East 14th Avenue • Denver, Colorado 80203
2021 CO 14Supreme Court Case No. 20SC187
Certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA1406
Petitioners:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child: A.M.
and
A.M., Minor Child,
v.
Respondent:
T.M.
Judgment Reversed
en banc
February 16, 2021
Attorneys for Petitioner the People of the State of Colorado:
Larimer County Attorney Office
Jeannine S. Haag, County Attorney
Jennifer A. Stewart, Senior County Attorney
David P. Ayraud, Senior County Attorney
Fort Collins, Colorado
Attorney for Petitioner A.M.:
Josi McCauley, Guardian ad litem
Fort Collins, Colorado
Attorneys for Respondent:
Blain Myhre, LLC
Blain Myhre
Englewood, Colorado
A.E. Bochniak Law, LLC
Steven E. Baum
Denver, Colorado
Attorney for Amicus Curiae Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel:
Christine Van Gaasbeek
Denver, Colorado
JUSTICE BERKENKOTTER delivered the Opinion of the Court.
2
¶1 We review a decision of a divided panel of the court of appeals holding that
a trial court must deny a motion to terminate parental rights that has been proven
by clear and convincing evidence if a less drastic alternative to termination exists
even though it is not in the child’s best interests.
¶2 We also review whether a trial court must make express findings regarding
less drastic alternatives to termination, and whether the panel majority substituted
its judgment for the factual findings of the trial court.1 We hold that the panel
departed from well-established jurisprudence regarding the best interests of the
child standard in termination cases; that a trial court is not required to make
express less drastic alternative findings, though it is certainly the better practice to
do so; and that the majority substituted its judgment for that of the trial court. We
therefore reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.
1 We granted certiorari to consider the following issues:
1. Whether a trial court is required to make a specific finding considering and
eliminating less drastic alternatives before ordering termination of the
parent-child legal relationship, and if so, whether the trial court must do so
using the best interests of the child standard or the adequacy standard.
2. Whether the Court of Appeals acted discordantly with applicable decisions
of the Court when it failed to properly apply the clearly erroneous standard
of review, substituting the trial court’s factual findings with its own
judgment, and reversed the trial court’s termination decree.
3
I. Facts and Procedural History
¶3 A.M. was placed with her Father’s stepsister (“Aunt”) after A.M. tested
positive for heroin at birth and after both of A.M.’s parents tested positive for
illegal drugs. The trial court subsequently adjudicated A.M. dependent and
neglected as to both parents and adopted appropriate treatment plans.
¶4 The People ultimately filed a motion to terminate the rights of both parents,
alleging that they had not complied with their treatment plans, that no
modifications to the plans could be made to enable them to regain parental fitness,
that no less drastic alternatives to termination existed, and that termination of the
parent-child legal relationship was in A.M.’s best interests.
¶5 Following a two-day termination hearing, the trial court found:
It would be in the best interest of the Child for the Court to terminate
the Respondents’ parental rights so that the Child would be available
for adoption by her [A]unt S.A. Termination and adoption would
provide certainly [sic] and stability in the short, medium and long
term. It would give the Child the best chance of growing up in a
supportive, loving and safe environment for the duration of her
childhood.
However, in order the [sic] terminate a parent’s rights, the Court must
find that there are no less drastic alternatives short of termination.
The Court cannot make that finding in this case.
¶6 The trial court denied the People’s motion, holding that “the best interest of
the child would be served by termination; however, permanent custody is a less
drastic alternative.”
4
¶7 The People appealed, arguing that the trial court erred in holding that “any
permanency option . . . was an automatic bar to termination of parental rights.” In
an unpublished opinion, a division of the court of appeals reversed the trial court’s
judgment, holding that it erroneously concluded that it must award permanent
custody even though that was not in the child’s best interests. People in Interest of
A.M., No. 18CA1091, ¶ 17 (May 2, 2019) (“A.M. I”). The division remanded the
case to the trial court with directions to resolve whether the less drastic alternative
of permanent custody to Aunt was in the child’s best interests or whether, as the
court’s findings indicated, termination was in A.M.’s best interests. Id.¶8 On remand, the trial court found that “permanent custody was an
appropriate and viable option and less drastic than termination; however,
termination is better for the child because it provides a slightly higher probability
of permanence.” The trial court, accordingly, terminated Father’s and Mother’s
parental rights.
¶9 Father appealed the trial court’s termination order. A divided panel of the
court of appeals reversed. The majority held that instead of focusing on the best
interests of the child, as the division in the first appeal ordered, the trial court was
required to determine “whether there is an alternative short of termination that
adequately meets the child’s physical, emotional, and mental health needs.” People
in Interest of A.M., 2020 COA 30, ¶ 24, __ P.3d __ (“A.M. II”).
5
¶10 The majority concluded that “when both an [allocation of parental
responsibilities (“APR”)] to a relative and termination would adequately serve the
child’s physical, mental, and emotional needs, termination must be denied.” Id. at
¶ 26 (emphasis added). It viewed this outcome as mandated by our decision in
People in Interest of M.M., 726 P.2d 1108, 1123 (Colo. 1986). It read M.M. as
“requiring that before an order terminating the parent-child relationship may be
entered, the court must consider and reject less drastic alternatives.” A.M. II, ¶ 27.
¶11 In her dissent, Judge Terry observed that she would have affirmed because
there was support in the record for the trial court’s factual findings and
determination that termination was in A.M.’s best interests. People in Interest of
A.M., 2020 COA 30, ¶ 32, __ P.3d __ (Terry, J., dissenting).
¶12 We granted certiorari and now reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.
II. Analysis
¶13 We begin by outlining the appropriate standard of review. Next, we detail
the law concerning termination of parental rights, less drastic alternatives, and
constitutional considerations in termination cases. We then apply the relevant law
and hold that the court of appeals’ adoption of an adequacy standard is at odds
with our prior rulings regarding the best interests of the child standard in
termination cases—a standard that does not run afoul of parents’ due process
rights. We further hold that consideration of less drastic alternatives is implicit in
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the statutory criteria for termination; that due process does not require such
findings be made explicit; and that the court of appeals failed to apply the correct
legal standard and, instead, substituted its judgment for that of the trial court.
¶14 Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.
A. Standard of Review
¶15 Where resolution of an issue necessitates application of the termination
statute to evidentiary facts, it presents a mixed question of fact and law. See People
in Interest of S.N. v. S.N., 2014 CO 64, ¶ 21, 329 P.3d 276, 282. The credibility of the
witnesses; the sufficiency, probative value, and weight of the evidence; and the
inferences and conclusions to be drawn from the evidence are within the discretion
of the trial court. People in Interest of A.J.L., 243 P.3d 244, 249–50 (Colo. 2010). Thus,
a trial court’s factual findings and conclusions will be set aside only where they
are “so clearly erroneous as to find no support in the record.” Id. at 250 (quoting
People in Interest of C.A.K., 652 P.2d 603, 613 (Colo. 1982)).
¶16 “Whether the court of appeals applied the correct legal standard to a case
under review is a matter of law” to be reviewed de novo. Id. at 249.
B. Termination of Parental Rights
¶17 Parents have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in the care, custody,
and management of their children. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 753 (1982);
Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000); In Interest of Baby A, 2015 CO 72, ¶ 20,
7
363 P.3d 193, 201 (citing Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 651 (1972)). Children also
have an interest in the continuation of their family relationship and in preventing
the erroneous termination of the parent-child legal relationship. Santosky, 455 U.S.
at 760.
¶18 The procedure by which the parent-child relationship is terminated must
satisfy due process. Id. at 753–54 (intervening in “[t]he fundamental liberty
interest of natural parents in the care, custody, and management of their child”
requires “fundamentally fair procedures”). Due process requires that a parent be
provided with notice of the allegations in the termination motion, the opportunity
to be heard, the opportunity to have counsel if indigent, and the opportunity to
call witnesses and engage in cross examination. See People in Interest of M.B.,
70 P.3d 618, 622 (Colo. App. 2003). Due process further requires that the criteria
for termination of parental rights be established by clear and convincing evidence.
Santosky, 455 U.S. at 769–70.
¶19 Thus, a trial court may terminate parental rights only if it finds, by clear and
convincing evidence, that (1) the child was adjudicated dependent and neglected;
(2) the parent has not complied with an appropriate, court-approved treatment
plan, or the plan has not been successful; (3) the parent is unfit; and (4) the parent’s
conduct or condition is unlikely to change in a reasonable time. § 19-3-604(1)(c),
C.R.S. (2020); E.S.V. v. People, 2016 CO 40, ¶ 19, 370 P.3d 1144, 1148; People in
8
Interest of C.H., 166 P.3d 288, 289 (Colo. App. 2007). Implicit in these criteria is the
requirement that the trial court consider and eliminate less drastic alternatives.
M.M., 726 P.2d at 1122.2
¶20 These criteria require the trial court to give primary consideration to the
child’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. § 19-3-604(3); People in Interest of
J.M.B., 60 P.3d 790, 793 (Colo. App. 2002). “[The] primary and controlling issue in
termination proceedings, even though parental rights are at stake, is the
determination of what will best serve the interests and welfare of the child.”
K.D. v. People, 139 P.3d 695, 701 (Colo. 2006) (citing People in Interest of M.M.,
520 P.2d 128, 131 (Colo. 1974)); see also § 19-3-604(3) (“In considering the
2 The requirement that the trial court consider and eliminate less drastic
alternatives arose in our cases decided before the adoption of specific statutory
criteria for termination. These cases recognized that the significance of the
parent-child relationship was such that certain conditions must be satisfied before
an order of termination could be properly entered, including an express
consideration of less drastic alternatives and a specific elimination of these
alternatives. People in Interest of E.A., 638 P.2d 278, 284 (Colo. 1982); People in
Interest of C.S., 613 P.2d 1304, 1307 (Colo. 1980).
In 1977, when the legislature enacted section 19-11-105, 8B C.R.S. (1986), and
adopted specific criteria to be applied in termination proceedings, it did not
specifically refer to less drastic alternatives. We reasoned in M.M., that although
section 19-11-105 did not require a trial court to make an express finding that less
drastic alternatives were considered and eliminated, a trial court’s consideration
and elimination of less drastic alternatives was implicit in the newly adopted
legislative criteria. M.M., 726 P.2d at 1122.
9
termination of the parent–child legal relationship, the court shall give primary
consideration to the physical, mental, and emotional conditions and needs of the
child.”).
C. Application
1. Adequacy Versus Best Interests of the Child
¶21 A majority of the division concluded that the phrase “best interests of the
child” is not required to be used as a superlative. A.M. II, ¶ 24. Instead, the
majority held that “the inquiry must be whether there is an alternative short of
termination that adequately meets the child’s physical, emotional, and mental
health needs.” Id. That is, “when both an APR to a relative and termination would
adequately serve the child’s physical, mental, and emotional needs, termination
must be denied.” Id. at ¶ 26 (emphasis added). The majority viewed this outcome
as mandated by M.M., 726 P.2d at 1123, which it read as “requiring that before an
order terminating the parent-child relationship may be entered, the court must
consider and reject less drastic alternatives.” A.M. II, ¶ 27.
¶22 In reaching this conclusion, the majority acknowledged that various
divisions of the court of appeals have concluded that consideration of the child’s
best interests is applicable to less drastic alternative decisions. Id. at ¶ 24. In J.M.B.,
for instance, the division concluded that the child’s best interests “govern”
termination, generally. 60 P.3d at 793. That division further held that permanent
10
placement with a family member is dependent on the child’s best interests, as is
the determination whether to order permanent placement as an alternative to
termination. Id.
¶23 In People in Interest of Z.M., 2020 COA 3M, ¶ 32, 463 P.3d 330, 335, a division
held that if the record supports the trial court’s findings that no less drastic
alternatives existed and that termination of parental rights was in the child’s best
interests, the court will not disturb the findings. Still another division concluded
that the trial court must consider the child’s best interests when considering any
placement short of termination. People in Interest of A.R., 2012 COA 195M, ¶ 41,
310 P.3d 1007, 1017.
¶24 Even the case the majority relies on in support of its adequacy standard,
People in Interest of T.E.M., 124 P.3d 905, 910 (Colo. App. 2005), concluded that the
child’s permanent placement with a relative “is dependent” on the child’s best
interests, A.M. II, ¶ 24.
¶25 The primacy of the best interests standard in connection with the overall
termination decision was also reflected in the opinion of the division following the
first appeal in this case. A.M. I, ¶ 10 (quoting J.M.B., 60 P.3d at 793). It stated that
a “less drastic alternative analysis considers whether any placement, short of
termination, would be in the child’s best interest.” Id. at ¶ 9 (quoting A.R., ¶ 44,
310 P.3d at 1017). That division added, “Furthermore, ‘the best interests of the
11
child govern any termination decision, and the court may find that long-term
foster care is not a viable option when the child needs the permanency that only
adoption can provide.’” Id. at ¶ 10 (quoting J.M.B., 60 P.3d at 793).
¶26 That is, “the trial court must also consider whether the less drastic
alternative itself is in the child’s best interests.” Id. at ¶ 15 (citing People in Interest
of S.T., 678 P.2d 1054, 1056 (Colo. App. 1983)). Many other divisions have reached
similar conclusions about the primacy of the best interests of the child standard in
termination cases.3
¶27 While these divisions use slightly varying terms to describe the interplay
between a trial court’s consideration of less drastic alternatives and the child’s best
interests, these divisions are uniform in recognizing that if a proposed alternative
to termination is to be deemed viable, it must not only be adequate, it must be in
the child’s best interests. None of these cases suggests that the child’s best interests
is not a superlative or that “best” means adequate.
3 Cases concluding that long-term or permanent placement may not be
appropriate when it does not provide adequate permanence or otherwise meet the
child’s best interests include, but are certainly not limited to: People in Interest of
S.N-V., 300 P.3d 911, 920 (Colo. App. 2011); People in Interest of D.P., 160 P.3d 351,
356 (Colo. App. 2007); People in Interest of J.L.M., 143 P.3d 1125, 1126–27 (Colo. App.
2006); People in Interest of D.B-J., 89 P.3d 530, 532 (Colo. App. 2004); M.B., 70 P.3d
at 627; People in Interest of E.I.C., 958 P.2d 511, 515 (Colo. App. 1998); S.T., 678 P.2d
at 1056.
12
¶28 This approach is also consistent with this court’s opinions regarding the
consideration of less drastic alternatives. For instance, in People in Interest of L.D.,
671 P.2d 940, 945 (Colo. 1983), we held that, in deciding whether less drastic
alternatives exist, a trial court may recognize differences between the parents, as
well as differences between the children, and then base its termination decisions
upon the best interests of the children.
¶29 True, in M.M., we explained that the trial court must consider and reject less
drastic alternatives. 726 P.2d at 1123. But, we affirmed the trial court’s termination
order because, among other things, there was evidence in the record that
supported its finding that “permanent foster care would not be in the minor child’s
best interests, nor would it serve any purpose.” Id. at 1123–24.
¶30 In contrast, the new “adequacy” standard that the court of appeals
introduced in this case is at odds with the division’s decision in A.M. I, the
decisions of many other divisions, and this court’s holdings concerning the
significance and operation of the best interests of the child standard in termination
cases. While we have held that a trial court must consider and reject less drastic
alternatives to termination as part of its overall consideration of the statutory
criteria for termination, M.M., 726 P.2d at 1123; People in the Interest of E.A.,
638 P.2d 278, 284 (Colo. 1981), the court of appeals’ reliance on M.M. is misplaced.
13
M.M. did not adopt an adequacy standard or suggest that the trial court may give
less than primary consideration to the best interests and welfare of the child.
¶31 Primary consideration of the child’s physical, mental, and emotional
condition and needs requires more than a mere assessment of adequacy in order
to satisfy the overall intent of the Children’s Code.
¶32 To that end, if a trial court considers a less drastic alternative in connection
with its overall evaluation of the statutory criteria for termination and finds that it
is in the child’s best interests, it should deny the termination request. Conversely,
if a trial court considers a less drastic alternative in connection with its overall
consideration of the statutory criteria for termination and finds that termination is
in the child’s best interests, it must reject the alternative and order termination.
2. Constitutional Considerations
¶33 Our consideration of this matter does not end there. Father argues that this
court should affirm the judgment of the court of appeals and prohibit termination
unless no other adequate less drastic alternative is available in order to protect
parents’ fundamental liberty interest in the care of their children. He contends
that the best interests of the child standard fails to adequately protect parents’
fundamental constitutional rights. Father further asserts that there is no legitimate
state interest in termination here, where all of A.M.’s needs are met by the less
drastic alternative of placement with Aunt.
14
¶34 Father argues that a best interests standard is relatively subjective and is
subject to greater risk of influence from the implicit biases, whims, and lay
judgments of individual judges. The fundamental constitutional rights of parents
should not rest, he asserts, on the individual, subjective views of a single
decisionmaker of what is “best,” when an appropriate, adequate less drastic
alternative that fully protects the child is available.
¶35 Father is correct that the purpose of dependency or neglect proceedings is
not to deprive parents of their right to raise their children, but rather to preserve
the family and protect the children. And a parent has a constitutionally protected
liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of his or her child. Santosky,
455 U.S. at 753. Children also have an interest in the continuation of their family
relationship and in preventing the erroneous termination of the parent-child legal
relationship. Id. at 760.
¶36 As a result, “until the State proves parental unfitness, the child and his
parents share a vital interest in preventing erroneous termination of their natural
relationship.” Id. However, once the trial court is persuaded that the State has
established a parent’s lack of fitness, the interests of the child and the parent
diverge. See id. at 760–61. At that point, the separate interests of the child
outweigh the risk of erroneous termination of the parent-child relationship. See
People in Interest of A.M.D., 648 P.2d 625, 637–38 (Colo. 1982). The Children’s Code
15
does not support the conclusion that “a parent-child relationship should be
continued when it has been shown by clear and convincing evidence that . . . the
parent is unfit, an appropriate treatment plan has been tried without success, and
the conduct or condition of the parent is unlikely to change within a reasonable
time.” Id.¶37 Thus, the consideration and elimination of a less drastic alternative to
termination on the ground that termination best serves the child’s interests, where
the statutory criteria for termination are otherwise established by clear and
convincing evidence, satisfies due process. To that end, if a trial court, in
connection with its overall consideration of the statutory criteria for termination,
finds that a less drastic alternative is available and is in the child’s best interests,
termination should be denied. Conversely, if the trial court finds that termination,
not the less drastic alternative, is in the child’s best interests, it must reject the
alternative and order termination.
¶38 To the extent that the division majority suggests that its adequacy standard
was necessary to satisfy due process, that conclusion was in error. Finally, with
respect to Father’s argument that a trial court’s consideration of what is best for a
child is somehow more subjective than an assessment of what is adequate, we find
the argument unavailing.
16
3. Express Findings Regarding Less Drastic Alternatives
¶39 We turn next to Father’s argument that express consideration and
elimination of less drastic alternatives is necessary to protect parents’ due process
rights. Father contends that trial courts should have to make an explicit finding
that no less drastic alternative exists prior to terminating parental rights. He
asserts that such a finding is necessary to ensure that termination is a last resort.
He observes that parents who have substance abuse issues may not have them
forever and “may become clean in the future, enabling them to again be able to
properly care for and parent their children.”
¶40 This court has previously held that, while a trial court must consider and
eliminate less drastic alternatives, it is not required to make express findings in
this regard. M.M., 726 P.2d at 1122. This is because consideration and elimination
of less drastic alternatives is implicit in the statutory criteria for termination.
C.S. v. People, 83 P.3d 627, 640 (Colo. 2004); M.M., 726 P.2d at 1122.
¶41 That is, adherence to the statutory criteria for termination requires a trial
court to consider less drastic alternatives and to reject those alternatives as
unavailing before entering an order of termination. C.S., 83 P.3d at 640–41. As
long as the trial court’s findings conform to the statutory criteria for termination
and are adequately supported by evidence in the record, a reviewing court may
17
reasonably presume that, in the absence of any indication in the record to the
contrary, the trial court considered and eliminated less drastic alternatives. Id.
¶42 It is, as we have observed in the past, the better practice for a trial court to
make express findings regarding less drastic alternatives—as the trial court did
here—but we will not require the trial court to do so.
¶43 With respect to Father’s constitutional argument, we conclude that, because
the consideration and elimination of less drastic alternatives is implicit in the
statutory criteria for termination, due process is satisfied so long as the trial court
considers the statutory criteria for termination in light of the appropriate standard
of proof, even if it does not make explicit findings regarding less drastic
alternatives.
4. Whether the Division Majority Failed to Properly Apply the Clearly
Erroneous Standard of Review
¶44 Next, we consider whether the majority failed to properly apply the clearly
erroneous standard of review and, instead, substituted its judgment for that of the
trial court.
¶45 During the termination hearing, Aunt testified that adoption was best for
A.M., that she preferred adoption over permanent custody, that she would
provide A.M. with a stable home, and that she was open to communications with
Father and Mother. The caseworker testified that permanent placement was not
18
an appropriate option for the child given the fear and anxiety that the parents’
ability to request a major modification would cause.
¶46 In its first order, the trial court found that Father was unfit to parent and
unfit to even visit A.M. because he was usually under the influence of substances.
The court further found that parental visitation or parenting time would not be
appropriate for many years. It determined that Father had not complied with his
treatment plan, was unfit, and his condition was unlikely to change in a reasonable
time. The court then denied the People’s motion, holding that “the best interest of
the child would be served by termination; however, permanent custody is a less
drastic alternative.”
¶47 Following the remand order, the parties did not present any further
evidence. The trial court then made additional, detailed factual findings regarding
less drastic alternatives and A.M.’s best interests and, based on those factual
findings, terminated Mother’s and Father’s parental rights.
¶48 Father has not challenged the propriety of the trial court’s factual findings
regarding compliance with his treatment plan, fitness, or likelihood of change in
his condition or conduct. Here, the trial court’s determinations regarding
permanent placement and its determination that termination was in the child’s
best interests were factual findings entitled to deference, unless unsupported by
the record. A.J.L., 243 P.3d at 250.
19
¶49 The trial court considered the availability of an APR, and still determined
that termination of parental rights would be in the child’s best interests. Those
findings are supported by the record. The court of appeals, as the dissent noted,
A.M. II, ¶ 32 (Terry, J., dissenting), was accordingly bound to affirm the decision
of the trial court. J.M.B., 60 P.3d at 793; cf. People in Interest of L.M., 2018 COA 57M,
¶ 36, 433 P.3d 114, 121 (decision to terminate parental rights was affirmed where
the record showed that APR would not serve child’s best interests).
¶50 Because we conclude that the panel majority applied the incorrect legal
standard and substituted its judgment for that of the trial court, we reverse the
judgment of the court of appeals.
III. Conclusion
¶51 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.
20