In Re Mlh Minor ( 2023 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
UNPUBLISHED
In re MLH, Minor. April 20, 2023
No. 362563
Kalamazoo Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 2020-000239-NA
Before: SHAPIRO, P.J., and REDFORD and YATES, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Respondent-mother appeals by right the trial court’s July 17, 2022 order terminating her
parental rights to minor child MLH under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) (the conditions that led to the
adjudication continued to exist and no reasonable likelihood existed that those conditions would
be rectified within a reasonable time considering the child’s age), MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(ii) (failure
to rectify the conditions after given reasonable opportunity to do so), and MCL 712A.19b(3)(j)
(the child would be harmed if returned to respondent because of respondent’s conduct). We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND FACTS
Respondent gave birth to MLH in early September 2020. Joshua Heuschen is MLH’s legal
father by affidavit of parentage which he signed at the hospital.1 Petitioner, the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), sought MLH’s removal and placement into care because
respondent had ongoing substance abuse problems and had her rights to another child by a different
father terminated around one week before MLH’s birth. The trial court entered an ex parte order
placing MLH into protective custody with DHHS and ordered a preliminary hearing. At the
preliminary hearing, the trial court found that a substantial risk of harm existed and that it was
contrary to MLH’s welfare to remain in respondent’s home. On September 11, 2020, DHHS filed
a new petition seeking termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH. DHHS alleged, among
1
Heuschen is not a party to this appeal. Although a petition had been filed to terminate his parental
rights to MLH, the trial court dismissed it without prejudice because Heuschen demonstrated that
he sufficiently progressed and benefited from services, thus that the court permitted Heuschen and
his sister with whom he lived custody and care of MLH.
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other things, that respondent’s rights to another child were terminated with her consent on August
27, 2020, because she could not provide that child a non-neglectful home and would not be able
to do so within a reasonable time, and that the barriers that stood in the way of reunification such
as substance abuse, emotional instability, and lack of parenting skills, remained despite
respondent’s participation in services, in that she tested positive for methamphetamine throughout
the pendency of that case. The petition also alleged that respondent had convictions for operating
a motor vehicle while intoxicated because of alcohol abuse. The petition further alleged that
respondent had been the subject of at least five domestic violence investigations of abuse involving
respondent and Heuschen. The trial court authorized the petition.
At a hearing held on January 6, 2021, respondent agreed to enter a plea of admission to the
allegations in the petition in return for the withdrawal of the request for termination of her parental
rights to MLH. The court accepted respondent’s plea and permitted the withdrawal of the
termination request. The court ordered respondent to participate in services and do all she could
to rectify the issues and ordered respondent to attend counseling, undergo random drug screenings,
attend parenting classes, and permitted respondent supervised parenting time with MLH at
DHHS’s discretion.
During the pendency of this case, the trial court conducted numerous hearings during which
the court reviewed evidence and heard testimony that respondent failed to regularly participate in
services and benefit from them and continued to have substance abuse issues, failed to drug screen,
missed parenting-time sessions, stopped attending therapy sessions, and had warrants for her arrest
for probation violations related to her drunk driving convictions. Caseworkers testified that
substance abuse, parenting skills, emotional stability, housing, communication, and criminal
activity remained problems for respondent. Each time the trial court ordered the continuation of
its orders regarding services, drug screens, and parenting time, only to learn at the next hearing
that respondent continued to fail to comply with and benefit from her case service plan. At the
various hearings, after caseworkers reported each time respondent’s lack of progress, respondent
testified blaming illness and other things for her lack of progress and failure to comply with her
parent-agency treatment plan.
Although the court ordered respondent to have supervised parenting time twice a week for
one hour with MLH, she missed numerous visits. Further, despite the court’s orders that
respondent not have contact with Heuschen because of their history of domestic abuse and the fact
that the court permitted him custody of MLH, respondent became pregnant again by Heuschen
with JMH who was born during May 2022. After his birth, tests of the child’s meconium revealed
that the child had high concentrations of amphetamines, methamphetamine, and THC in his
system. The trial court, therefore, also removed JMH from respondent’s care. As a result, on
May 24, 2022, petitioner filed a petition to terminate respondent’s parental rights to JMH. The
trial court released JMH to Heuschen’s custody and ordered respondent to have no contact with
the child outside of DHHS’s supervised parenting time.
On June 9, 2022, the trial court commenced the three-day termination hearing based on the
supplemental petition seeking termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH. Respondent’s
probation officer testified regarding respondent’s drunk driving conviction, sentence to participate
in the Kalamazoo Probation Enhanced Program (KPEP), temporary release to home during
December 2021 because of her COVID-19 infection, order to return to KPEP in January 2022, and
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failure to return which resulted in the issuance of a warrant for respondent’s arrest. Respondent’s
caseworker also testified regarding the numerous services made available to respondent during the
pendency of this case and respondent’s failure to participate in those services. The caseworker
reported that respondent tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine, THC, and alcohol
numerous times and failed to complete the counseling and substance abuse services made available
to her. Further, respondent completed only 53 of 175 parenting-time visits, cancelled some early,
and never sought modification of the order of the court for the twice weekly hour-long supervised
visits. The caseworker also testified that, despite attempts to arrange home assessments,
respondent failed to permit them and when such were arranged failed to show. MLH was 18
months old and respondent had never had her in her care and had not established a bond with the
child. Respondent also had a history of becoming hostile and oppositional with her caseworkers.
Respondent testified that she felt that she was addressing her substance abuse problem and
participated in the services ordered and benefited from them. She explained that she became
infected with COVID-19 and went home from KPEP and after she recovered she did not return to
KPEP because of complications with her pregnancy. She testified that she worked at rectifying
the conditions and if given more time would be successful now that her health complications were
no longer a barrier. She claimed that she would go back into KPEP the next week and start getting
back on track and rectify her issues in a short time. She requested that the court not terminate her
parental rights. During cross-examination, she admitted having multiple drunk driving convictions
including a felony third offense conviction which resulted in probation, and admitted violating the
terms of her probation. She refused to answer questions regarding use of methamphetamine and
initially asserted that she lacked awareness of JMH’s meconium test results but stated that she
disagreed with the results. Ultimately, she admitted that JMH tested positive at birth for
methamphetamine. She stated that she did not have an explanation for that. The trial court
adjourned the termination hearing.
When the trial court reconvened the termination hearing on June 14, 2022, respondent did
not appear. The trial court placed a DHHS representative under oath who testified that she learned
that respondent went to the Borgess Hospital Emergency Department and had been discharged
approximately 20 minutes before the hearing. Respondent’s counsel moved for adjournment and
the court granted the motion but ordered respondent to provide verification of receipt of medical
treatment and an explanation for her nonappearance.
On June 15, 2022, petitioner filed a petition seeking termination of respondent’s parental
rights to JMH that alleged that on June 14, 2022 and June 15, 2022, Heuschen allowed an overnight
visit of JMH by an unauthorized relative without DHHS’s consent, allowed respondent access to
JMH without DHHS’s consent, let respondent stay overnight at his house with the children present,
and that Heuschen could not locate JMH for hours because respondent and an unauthorized relative
left with him. At the preliminary hearing on that petition, the trial court heard testimony that
Heuschen dropped JMH off at the home of respondent’s mother, and respondent had contact with
JMH and at some point left with the child. Heuschen then not knowing where the child was, called
the police who located respondent and the child. The caseworker then went to respondent’s house
and retrieved the child.
On June 17, 2022, the trial court reconvened the termination hearing respecting the petition
to terminate respondent’s parental rights to MLH. Respondent stipulated to admitting that she
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currently housed at KPEP due to her criminality and was ordered to participate in substance abuse
services which the parties stipulated satisfied MCL 712A.2(b)(1-5). The trial court next explained
that the proofs were concluded in the trial in this case respecting respondent’s parental rights to
MLH in relation to this case. Petitioner requested that the court terminate respondent’s parental
rights under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) because the conditions that led to the adjudication continued
to exist and no reasonable likelihood existed that those conditions would be rectified within a
reasonable time considering the child’s age, MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(ii) because respondent failed to
rectify the conditions after given reasonable opportunity to do so, MCL 712A.19b(3)(j) because
MLH would be harmed based on respondent’s conduct. Petitioner recounted the evidence
establishing statutory grounds. Petitioner also argued that termination served MLH’s best interests
because the applicable factors all favored termination. MLH’s attorney guardian ad litem agreed
that respondent’s parental rights to MLH should be terminated. Respondent opposed termination
and argued that illness and pregnancy complications, among other things, interfered with
respondent’s progress at rectifying the conditions that led to MLH’s removal; but because she
returned to KPEP, she would address her substance abuse problem and given time and opportunity
respondent would bond with MLH, and the child would not be harmed by not terminating
respondent’s parental rights to her.
The trial court recounted the testimony and evidence presented to the court over the course
of this case and found that clear and convincing evidence established statutory grounds for
termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH. The trial court then considered whether
termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH served MLH’s best interests. The court
weighed the applicable best-interest factors and found that they favored termination. The trial
court, therefore, ordered respondent’s parental rights to MLH terminated.
Over a month later, respondent moved for the trial court’s recusal and for rescission of the
court’s order terminating respondent’s parental rights to MLH. The motion asserted that
respondent and Joshua Disbrow had a minor child and had a court proceeding regarding parenting
time, custody, and child support in which Rex Brueggemann, a partner in a law firm, Brueggemann
and Sharma Law Firm, represented Disbrow. Respondent contended that the presiding judge in
this matter, Circuit Judge Namita Sharma, and attorney Brueggemann were married. Respondent
asserted that the court did not give notice to respondent of such information or provide respondent
an opportunity to waive any potential conflict. Respondent requested that the presiding judge
recuse herself from further proceedings, rescind the termination order respecting MLH, and have
all matters reassigned to another judge. In her supporting brief, respondent argued that an
appearance of impropriety existed in violation of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct because
Judge Sharma made “decisions regarding a party opponent to her former law firm” “which anyone
may reasonably surmise that this breeches the appearance of impropriety.” Respondent questioned
whether Judge Sharma could be fair under those circumstances.
The trial court considered the motion and addressed it in a written opinion and order
denying the motion. This appeal followed.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
We review de novo questions of law, such as the proper interpretation and application of a
court rule. Henry v Dow Chem Co, 484 Mich 483, 495; 772 NW2d 301 (2009).
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This Court reviews for an abuse of discretion a trial court’s factual findings
regarding a motion for disqualification while its application of the facts to the law
is reviewed de novo. An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s decision
is outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. [TT v KL, 334 Mich
App 413, 431; 965 NW2d 101 (2020) (quotation marks and citations omitted).]
We review unpreserved issues for plain error affecting substantial rights. In re Utrera, 281
Mich App 1, 8; 761 NW2d 253 (2008). To avoid forfeiture under the plain error analysis,
respondent must establish that (1) error occurred, (2) the error was clear or obvious, and (3) the
error affected substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763, 774; 597 NW2d 130(1999). The third requirement generally requires showing that the error affected the outcome of
the lower court proceedings. Id. Respondent bears the burden of establishing prejudice. Id.“Reversal is warranted only when the plain, forfeited error resulted in the conviction of an actually
innocent defendant or when an error seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation
of the judicial proceedings independent of the defendant’s innocence.” Id. at 763-764 (quotation
marks and citation omitted). See also In re Utrera, 281 Mich App at 9.
III. ANALYSIS
A. RECUSAL
Respondent first argues that the presiding judge erred by not recusing herself under MCR
2.003(C)(1)(b)(ii) for failing “to adhere to the appearance of impropriety standard set forth in
Canon 2 of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct” because, about four years before this case
commenced, the judge’s husband and her then partner in their law firm, represented a man with
whom respondent had a child custody dispute. Respondent’s argument lacks merit.
“Due process requires that an unbiased and impartial decision-maker hear and decide a
case.” TT, 334 Mich App at 431 (quotation marks and citation omitted). This Court presumes that
a judge is unbiased, and the party moving to recuse has the heavy burden of overcoming that
presumption. Id., see also Cain v Dep’t of Corrections, 451 Mich 470, 497; 548 NW2d 210 (1996).
MCR 2.003 sets forth the nonexclusive grounds and procedure for disqualification of a judge. TT,
334 Mich App at 432; see also People v Houston, 179 Mich App 753, 755; 446 NW2d 543 (1989).
MCR 2.003 in relevant part provides:
(C) Grounds.
(1) Disqualification of a judge is warranted for reasons that include, but are
not limited to, the following:
(a) The judge is biased or prejudiced for or against a party or attorney.
(b) The judge, based on objective and reasonable perceptions, has either (i)
a serious risk of actual bias impacting the due process rights of a party as enunciated
in Caperton v Massey, 556 US 868; 129 S Ct 2252; 173 L Ed 2d 1208 (2009), or
(ii) has failed to adhere to the appearance of impropriety standard set forth in Canon
2 of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct.
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(c) The judge has personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts
concerning the proceeding.
(d) The judge has been consulted or employed as an attorney in the matter
in controversy.
(e) The judge was a partner of a party, attorney for a party, or a member of
a law firm representing a party within the preceding two years.
(f) The judge knows that he or she, individually or as a fiduciary, or the
judge’s spouse, parent or child wherever residing, or any other member of the
judge’s family residing in the judge’s household, has more than a de minimis
economic interest in the subject matter in controversy that could be substantially
impacted by the proceeding.
(g) The judge or the judge’s spouse, or a person within the third degree of
relationship to either of them, or the spouse of such a person:
(i) is a party to the proceeding, or an officer, director, or trustee of a party;
(ii) is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding;
(iii) is known by the judge to have a more than de minimis interest that
could be substantially affected by the proceeding;
(iv) is to the judge’s knowledge likely to be a material witness in the
proceeding.
* * *
(D) Procedure.
(1)(a) Time for Filing in the Trial Courts. To avoid delaying trial and
inconveniencing the witnesses, all motions for disqualification must be filed within
14 days of the discovery of the grounds for disqualification. If the discovery is made
within 14 days of the trial date, the motion must be made forthwith.
“[T]he appearance of impropriety, under Canon 2 of the Michigan Code of Judicial
Conduct, may provide grounds for disqualification of a judge.” Okrie v State, 306 Mich App 445,
472; 857 NW2d 254 (2014). Canon 2(A) provides:
Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper
conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of
impropriety. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny. A
judge must therefore accept restrictions on conduct that might be viewed as
burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly.
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In Okrie, this Court instructed:
Under this objective standard, whether an appearance of impropriety exists requires
consideration of whether the conduct would create in reasonable minds a perception
that the judge’s ability to carry out judicial responsibilities with integrity,
impartiality and competence is impaired. [Okrie, 306 Mich App at 472 (quotation
marks and citations omitted); see also TT, 334 Mich App at 433; Kern v Kern-
Koskela, 320 Mich App 212, 232; 905 NW2d 453 (2017).]
In this case, objective analysis of the facts and proceedings does not support respondent’s
claim that recusal was required under MCR 2.003(C)(1)(b) and Code of Judicial Conduct,
Canon 2. The record indicates that Judge Sharma’s personal and professional partner, her husband,
represented a party adverse to respondent in a child custody case in 2016, around four years before
the commencement of this case days after MLH’s birth. Judge Sharma did not dispute the fact of
her husband and former partner’s representation of a man with whom respondent had a child
custody dispute. Judge Sharma considered the allegation but pointed out the remoteness of that
case from this case, that the parties differed, and that this case involved matters pertaining to MLH
not the child who was the subject of the custody dispute. In denying respondent’s motion, Judge
Sharma correctly observed that the child involved in the 2016 case was not MLH and the person
represented was never a party to this action. Respondent offers nothing but abstract speculation
that the fact of the judge’s husband’s representation alone creates a perception of impropriety, and
that the judge’s ability to judge with integrity, impartiality, and competence may have been
impaired. Review of the entire file in this case, however, does not permit a reasonable mind to
conclude that an appearance of impropriety existed. From an objective analysis, no reasonable
mind could perceive that Judge Sharma’s ability to faithfully carry out her judicial responsibilities
suffered from any impairment.
On the contrary, the record, in fact, reflects that Judge Sharma executed her judicial
responsibilities properly without bias or prejudice toward any party, particularly respondent, who
repeatedly failed to comply with the court’s orders which appropriately addressed the serious
concerns for the safety and well-being of MLH and provided for respondent to rectify the
conditions that led to MLH’s removal. Despite respondent’s conduct, Judge Sharma granted
respondent multiple opportunities for nearly two years to take personal responsibility and
corrective action to enable her to rectify the conditions and reunify with MLH. Respondent failed
to do so, and she is not entitled to reversal of the trial court’s decision to terminate her parental
rights to MLH on the ground that Judge Sharma should have recused herself and rescinded that
decision. The record also indicates that Judge Sharma applied the required objective analysis for
her decision to deny respondent’s meritless motion. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s
decision.
Petitioner argues that respondent untimely filed her recusal motion and therefore waived
the issue for appellate review. Petitioner correctly points out that MCR 2.003(D)(1)(a) requires
that “all motions for disqualification must be filed within 14 days of the discovery of the grounds
for disqualification,” and that respondent’s motion and affidavit indicate that respondent knew of
the alleged ground for disqualification as of June 14, 2022, but failed to file her recusal motion
until July 19, 2022. We agree that respondent failed to timely file her motion. The rule requires
filing all motions for disqualification within 14 days of discovery of the grounds for
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disqualification. There is no broader classification than the word “all,” and the word “all” leaves
no room for exceptions. Peters v Gunnell, Inc, 253 Mich App 211, 223; 655 NW2d 582 (2002).
Accordingly, respondent untimely filed her motion and the trial court could have denied the motion
on that ground alone.
B. UNPRESERVED PROCEDURAL DUE-PROCESS CLAIM
Respondent argues for the first time on appeal that her procedural due-process rights and
constitution right to effective assistance of counsel were violated because the trial court failed to
ensure that respondent received reports, and the court’s court-appointed counsel payment policy—
which she alleges does not pay for counsel’s review of reports ahead of hearings—prevented
respondent’s counsel from providing effective assistance. These arguments lack merit.
“For an issue to be preserved for appellate review, it must be raised, addressed, and decided
by the lower court.” Mouzon, 308 Mich App at 419 (quotation marks and citation omitted). In
this case, respondent never objected to the timing of reports, never raised a procedural due-process
issue, never raised any issue regarding her counsel’s adequacy of preparation or representation,
and never asserted that the circuit court’s payment policy for court-appointed counsel prevented
her counsel from providing effective assistance during the lower court proceedings. Respondent,
therefore, failed to preserve any of these claimed errors for appeal. Accordingly, we review this
issue for plain error affecting substantial rights.
Significantly, on appeal, respondent does not challenge the trial court’s ruling that statutory
grounds for termination existed nor does she challenge the court’s ruling that termination served
MLH’s best interests. Instead, respondent argues vaguely and with no direct reference to the
record, that the trial court denied her procedural due process allegedly by not providing her or her
counsel reports in a timely manner and that the circuit court’s court-appointed counsel payment
policy somehow prevented her counsel from preparing adequately for hearings and the termination
hearing in particular. These arguments lack merit.
Although respondent alleges that reports were untimely, she fails to point to a single report
that she and her counsel did not receive, fails to demonstrate from the record that any were in fact
untimely submitted to the court, and fails to establish that her counsel lacked preparation or
otherwise failed to provide her effective assistance of counsel. Examination of the extensive
record indicates that numerous reports were prepared by caseworkers, and the dates referenced on
the reports appear to be well in advance of the various hearings held by the court. Those same
caseworkers testified at length about respondent’s failure to comply with her parent-agency
treatment plan and utter lack of benefit from services made available to her. The record also
reflects that respondent and her counsel never objected to the admission of such reports. Further,
the record reflects that respondent’s counsel came prepared and appropriately advocated on her
behalf at each and every hearing. From the record in this case, one cannot discern the commission
of plain error that affected respondent’s substantial rights.
Moreover, even assuming that plain error occurred as alleged, respondent has failed to
establish that she suffered prejudice, i.e., that the outcome of the proceedings would have been
different. The record demonstrates that petitioner met its burden of proving statutory grounds for
termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH by clear and convincing evidence, and proved
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by a preponderance of the evidence that termination served MLH’s best interests. The trial court
ensured that respondent’s due-process rights were not violated by adequately giving her notice and
opportunity to contest the allegations and evidence against her. The trial court properly applied
the law and correctly ordered the termination of respondent’s parental rights to MLH.
Respecting respondent’s submission of the circuit court’s court-appointed attorney
payment policies and procedures document, the record indicates that she never submitted that to
the trial court or otherwise made it a part of the lower court record. “ ‘This Court’s review is
limited to the record established by the trial court, and a party may not expand the record on
appeal.’ ” In re Rudell Estate, 286 Mich App 391, 405; 780 NW2d 884 (2009), quoting Sherman
v Sea Ray Boats, Inc, 251 Mich App 41, 56; 649 NW2d 783 (2002); MCR 7.210(A)(1).
Accordingly, we decline to consider the exhibit attached to respondent’s appeal brief. Moreover,
respondent offers no real argument that her court-appointed counsel actually failed to review
reports ahead of hearings.
Respondent has failed to establish her unpreserved claims that her procedural due-process
rights and constitution right to effective assistance of counsel were violated. The record does not
establish that any plain error occurred or that such alleged error affected respondent’s substantial
rights.
Affirmed.
/s/ Douglas B. Shapiro
/s/ James Robert Redford
/s/ Christopher P. Yates
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