In re: T.H. & M.H. ( 2019 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA18-926
Filed: 18 June 2019
Rowan County, Nos. 16 JT 33-34
IN RE: T.H. & M.H.
Appeal by Respondents from order entered 1 June 2018 by Judge Charlie
Brown in Rowan County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 30 May 2019.
Jane R. Thompson for Petitioner-Appellee Rowan County Department of Social
Services.
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, by Katherine Barber-Jones, for guardian ad
litem.
Dorothy Hairston Mitchell for Respondent-Appellant Mother.
Parent Defender Wendy C. Sotolongo, by Deputy Parent Defender Annick
Lenoir-Peek, for Respondent-Appellant Father.
DILLON, Judge.
Respondents, Mother and Father of the minor children T.H. (“Tonya”) and
M.H. (“Madeline”),1 appeal from the trial court’s order terminating their parental
rights to the children. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
determining that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the children’s best
1 Pseudonyms are used to protect the juveniles’ identities, see N.C. R. App. P. 42, and for ease
of reading.
IN RE: T.H. & M.H.
Opinion of the Court
interests, and we hold it properly concluded grounds existed to terminate Father’s
parental rights based on neglect. We, therefore, affirm the trial court’s order.
I. Background
Respondents’ history with the Rowan County Department of Social Services
(“DSS”) dates back to 2011 due to substance abuse and mental health issues and their
lack of proper care and supervision of the children. In November 2011, Mother tested
positive for methadone and amphetamines at Tonya’s birth, and Tonya had to remain
in the hospital for weeks due to significant withdrawal symptoms. From 2011 to
2016, DSS received multiple reports regarding the family due to drug abuse and
supervision issues.
DSS most recently became involved with the family in early 2016 after
receiving reports relating to Respondents’ substance abuse and inappropriate living
conditions. On 12 February 2016, DSS filed a juvenile petition alleging both juveniles
to be neglected and dependent and took the children into non-secure custody.
A week later, Respondents entered into an Out of Home Family Services
Agreement (OHFSA) in which they agreed to obtain and maintain appropriate
housing, obtain and maintain employment, complete substance abuse and mental
health treatment, complete a psychiatric evaluation, submit to random drug screens,
complete a parenting education course, resolve all pending legal issues, and refrain
from criminal activity.
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Five weeks later, on 31 March 2016, the trial court entered a consent order,
adjudicating the children neglected and dependent. The trial court found that
Respondents had multiple pending criminal charges and continued to suffer from
long-term, untreated substance abuse and mental health issues. The court also found
that the children were living in an unsafe environment and were not receiving proper
medical or dental care. The court ordered Respondents to comply with the
components of their case plan. Over the next several months, however, both Mother
and Father were in and out of jail.
On 2 June 2016, Mother completed her substance abuse assessment and was
recommended to complete forty (40) hours of structured group therapy and to see a
psychiatrist. Mother attended one group session in December 2016 but did not attend
another session. On 23 January 2017, Mother was arrested for obtaining a controlled
substance by fraud or forgery after attempting to fill her recently deceased mother’s
prescription for Alprazolam.
In June 2017, the trial court entered a permanency planning review order,
changing the primary permanent plan to adoption with a secondary plan of
reunification. The trial court found that Respondents had not made any progress on
their case plans, finding that Respondents had not participated in any treatment
recommendations, including any substance abuse or mental health services, that they
had not engaged in any parenting education services, and that “[n]either parent
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understands the severity of their [criminal] charges or the effect their criminal
behavior and incarcerations have on their children.”
A month later, in July 2017, DSS filed a petition to terminate Respondents’
parental rights based on the grounds of neglect, willfully leaving the children in foster
care without making reasonable progress to correct the conditions which led to the
children’s removal, and willfully failing to pay a reasonable portion of the children’s
cost of care. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1)-(3) (2017).
Eleven months later, in June 2018, following two hearings on the matter, the
trial court entered an order concluding that grounds existed to terminate
Respondents’ parental rights based on neglect and willfully leaving the children in
foster care without making reasonable progress, and that termination of
Respondents’ parental rights was in the children’s best interests.
Accordingly, the trial court terminated Respondents’ parental rights to Tonya
and Madeline. Respondents each filed timely written notice of appeal.
II. Analysis
Mother and Father appeal, each bringing separate issues corresponding to
termination of their individual parental rights. We address each respondent in turn.
A. Mother’s Appeal
Mother does not challenge the trial court’s adjudication that grounds existed
to terminate her parental rights. Rather, Mother’s sole issue on appeal is that the
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trial court abused its discretion in determining that termination of her parental
rights was in the children’s best interests.
After a trial court adjudicates the existence of at least one ground for
termination, the court must then determine at disposition whether termination is in
the best interests of the child. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a) (2017). The court must
consider the factors listed in Chapter 7B-1110(a).
“The court’s determination of the juvenile’s best interest will not be disturbed
absent a showing of an abuse of discretion.” In re E.M., 202 N.C. App. 761, 764, 692
S.E.2d 629, 630 (2010) (citation omitted). “Abuse of discretion results where the
court’s ruling is manifestly unsupported by reason or is so arbitrary that it could not
have been the result of a reasoned decision.” State v. Hennis, 323 N.C. 279, 285, 372
S.E.2d 523, 527 (1988) (citation omitted).
Mother first argues the trial court failed to make the written findings required
by Chapter 7B-906.2(b) of our General Statutes, which applies to “permanency
planning hearing[s],” in order to cease reunification efforts. Specifically, Mother
appears to view the requirements of Section 7B-906.2(b) as part of the court’s inquiry
under Section 7B-1110(a)(3) in a termination determination. Mother argues that
reunification remained the primary permanent plan at the time of the termination
hearing, and thus the court was required to make the necessary findings under
Chapter 7B-906.2(b) in order to cease reunification efforts. We disagree.
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First, contrary to Mother’s assertion, reunification was not the primary
permanent plan at the time of the termination hearing. In a 30 June 2017
permanency planning order, the trial court changed the permanent plan to a primary
plan of adoption with a secondary plan of reunification. Second, a hearing on a
petition to terminate parental rights is not a permanency planning hearing. Section
7B-906.2 pertains to permanent plans that must be established at permanency
planning hearings, while Chapter 7B, Article 11, the statute at issue here, provides
for the judicial procedures for terminating parental rights. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-
1100(1) (2017).
Mother relies on this Court’s recent decision in In re D.A. to support her
argument. However, In re D.A. was not an appeal from a termination order, but from
a permanency planning order granting custody of the child to the foster parents and
waiving further review hearings. In re D.A., ___ N.C. App. ___, 811 S.E.2d 729 (2018).
Mother has not cited any authority requiring the trial court to make the findings set
forth in Section 7B-906.2(b) at a hearing for the termination of parental rights.
Here, the trial court found that terminating Respondents’ parental rights
“[was] necessary to accomplish the best permanent plan for the juveniles, which is
adoption.” Mother does not challenge this finding, and it is therefore binding on
appeal. In re D.L.H., 364 N.C. 214, 218, 694 S.E.2d 753, 755 (2010). Therefore, the
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trial court made the appropriate finding addressing Section 7B-1110(a)(3), and
Mother’s first argument is overruled.
Mother next argues the trial court failed to consider three “other relevant
considerations” under Section 7B-1110(a)(6) in determining termination was in the
children’s best interest. Mother contends the trial court failed to consider (1) her
substantial progress toward her sobriety, (2) the bond the children shared with her
and other maternal family members, and (3) DSS’s failure to make reasonable efforts
toward reunification. We disagree and address each in turn.
Mother first asserts the trial court failed to consider the progress she made
toward her sobriety and self-sufficiency. The trial court’s findings indicate that it did
consider Mother’s claim regarding her progress toward her sobriety, finding that
mother “report[ed] that she [had] been sober for one year” and “that she tested
negative on a drug screen administered by her probation officer yesterday.” However,
there was evidence that Mother was incarcerated for all but a few days of that year
of her claimed sobriety. It is the trial “judge’s duty to weigh and consider all
competent evidence, and pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, the weight to be
given their testimony and the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.” In re
Whisnant, 71 N.C. App. 439, 441, 322 S.E.2d 434, 435 (1984). Thus, it was within the
trial court’s discretion to determine that Mother’s years of unaddressed substance
abuse issues outweighed her claim of recent progress.
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Next, Mother argues the trial court failed to consider the children’s bond with
both her and the children’s biological relatives. Contrary to Mother’s assertion, the
trial court did consider this bond and found that there was not a strong bond.
Specifically, the trial court found that
There is not a strong bond between the children and their
parents. [Tonya] does not have memories of being with
[Mother] and [Father] other than sitting in front of a TV.
[Tonya] was worried with adoption in the beginning as she
thought if she loved [her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. C,]
then she would be betraying her parents. She does not
want to be removed from Mr. and Mrs. [C’s] home.
[Madeline] loves her parents. She worries about them and
remembers some of the things she was exposed to while in
the care of her parents. [Madeline] does not feel like she is
important to [Mother] and [Father]. [Madeline] has
referred to her parents [by their first names]. [Tonya] and
[Madeline] have not asked [Mr. and Mrs. C] to have contact
with [Mother] and [Father].
Mother does not challenge this finding, and therefore it is binding on appeal. In re
D.L.H., 364 N.C. at 218, 694 S.E.2d at 755.
Mother also contends the court failed to consider the bond the children have
with their biological relatives, namely their maternal aunt and uncle and maternal
grandfather, and argues that terminating her parental rights threatens to destroy
the bonds the children have with the maternal family members. However, the trial
court did make findings in this regard, for instance, specifically finding that the
children visit with their maternal grandfather and their maternal aunt and uncle.
Therefore, we find no merit to Mother’s contention.
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Lastly, Mother argues the trial court failed to consider DSS’s failure to make
efforts toward reunification. She argues DSS only contacted her once a month while
she was incarcerated and made no efforts to achieve reunification. She contends that,
once she was incarcerated, DSS gave up on its reunification efforts, and that the
court’s failure to consider this factor was an abuse of discretion.
However, “[t]he trial court is not required to make findings of fact on all the
evidence presented, nor state every option it considered” when determining its
disposition under Section 7B-1110. In re J.A.A., 175 N.C. App. 66, 75, 623 S.E.2d 45,
51 (2005). While the trial court must consider all of the factors in Section 7B-1110(a),
it only is required to make written findings regarding those factors that are relevant.
In re D.H., 232 N.C. App. 217, 221, 753 S.E.2d 732, 735 (2014). A factor is relevant if
there is conflicting evidence concerning the factor such that it is placed in issue. In
re H.D., 239 N.C. App. 318, 327, 768 S.E.2d 860, 866 (2015).
There was no conflicting evidence concerning DSS’s efforts in contacting
Mother during her incarceration. The only evidence regarding DSS’s reunification
efforts comes from a social worker’s “previously-provided sworn testimony” during
the adjudication phase which was incorporated without objection during the
disposition phase. Because this factor was not “placed in issue[,]” no findings
regarding DSS’s efforts toward reunification were required. Id. Mother has not
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provided any indication that the trial court failed to consider this information in
making its determination.
Additionally, to the extent Mother attempts to excuse her failure to make
reasonable progress by claiming DSS failed to make efforts toward reunification,
Mother did not challenge the trial court’s adjudication that she willfully failed to
make reasonable progress under Section 7B-1111(a)(2). By arguing that the trial
court “failed to appreciate” DSS’s alleged failure to make reunification efforts, Mother
essentially contends this evidence was not given sufficient weight by the trial court.
However, “[i]t is not the function of this Court to reweigh the evidence on appeal.”
Garrett v. Burris, 224 N.C. App. 32, 38, 735 S.E.2d 414, 418 (2012), aff’d per curiam,
366 N.C. 551, 742 S.E.2d 803 (2013).
In sum, we see no indication that the trial court failed to consider any “relevant
consideration” under the catch-all provision of Section 7B-1110(a)(6). A court is
entitled to give greater weight to certain factors over others in making its
determination concerning the best interest of a child. In re C.L.C., 171 N.C. App. 438,
448, 615 S.E.2d 704, 709-10 (2005) (explaining that, though mother emphasized her
bond with the child, “[t]he trial court was, however, entitled to give greater weight to
other facts that it found”), aff’d per curiam in part, disc. review improvidently allowed
in part, 360 N.C. 475, 628 S.E.2d 760 (2006) (affirming the majority opinion). The
trial court’s order reflects that it properly considered the required factors and made
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a reasoned determination that termination was in the children’s best interests.
Accordingly, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that
termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of the children, and
we affirm the order terminating her parental rights.
B. Father’s Appeal
Father’s counsel has filed a “no-merit” brief on his behalf in which they state
that, after a conscientious and thorough review of the record on appeal and
transcripts, they were unable to identify any issue of merit on which to base an
argument for relief. Pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate
Procedure, they request that this Court conduct an independent examination of the
case. N.C. R. App. P. 3.1(e).
In accordance with Appellate Rule 3.1(e), appellate counsel wrote Father a
letter advising him of (1) counsel’s inability to find error; (2) counsel’s request for this
Court to conduct an independent review of the record; and (3) Father’s right to file
his own arguments directly with this Court while the appeal is pending. Counsel
attached to the letter a copy of the record, transcript, and no-merit brief. Father,
however, has not submitted written arguments of his own to this Court.
As such, we are not required to conduct a review as neither Father nor his
counsel has brought forth any issue for our consideration. In re L.V., ___ N.C. App.
___, ___, 814 S.E.2d 928, 928-29 (2018). That is, the no-merit brief provision in Rule
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3.1(e) promulgated by our Supreme Court, which does not contain any such
requirement, should not be conflated with the requirements set forth by the United
States Supreme Court where no-merit briefs are filed in a criminal appeal. In re L.V.
is based on the following reasoning, as found in the concurring opinion in State v.
Velasquez-Cardenas, ___ N.C. ___, 815 S.E.2d 9 (2018).
Our State Constitution provides that our “Supreme Court shall have exclusive
authority to make rules of procedure and practice for the Appellate Division.” N.C.
Const. Art. IV, sec. 13(2). Pursuant to its exclusive authority, our Supreme Court has
promulgated Rule 28(a), which limits the right of an appellant to a review by our
Court to those issues raised in its brief, though in our discretion we can waive Rule
28(a) by invoking Rule 2 of our Rules of Appellate Procedure in order to review other
issues not raised in the briefs. N.C. R. App. P. 2; N.C. R. App. P. 28(a).
Rule 28(a)’s limited right to review, however, is qualified somewhat by the
United States Supreme Court decision in Anders v. California, in which that Court
determined that a criminal defendant has the right to a review by an appellate court
of issues not raised in his brief in certain circumstances. Anders v. California, 386
U.S. 738, 744 (1967). Anders, however, only applies to the first appeal of right in
criminal cases, not to parental rights appeals. Specifically, in Anders, that Court held
that indigent criminal defendants are entitled under our federal constitution to
certain procedures during a first appeal of right, where appointed counsel fails to
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discern a non-frivolous appellate issue. Id. These procedures include (1) the
defendant’s right to file a brief when his attorney has filed a “no merit” brief and (2)
the defendant’s right to a full search of the record by the appellate court, even if no
meritorious issues were raised by the defendant or his attorney.
In a later case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, under our federal
constitution, an indigent defendant is not entitled to Anders procedures on subsequent
post-conviction appeals even where state law provides such defendants a right to
counsel for that appeal. See Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 554 (1987).
This present matter is not criminal in nature; therefore Anders does not apply.
Our General Assembly, however, has provided parents the right to an appeal where
their parental rights are terminated and a right to counsel for that appeal. Our
General Assembly, though, has not provided these parties the right to all Anders
procedures, such as the right to a full Anders review of issues not raised in the briefs.
Neither our State Constitution nor the federal constitution provides this right. And
our Supreme Court has not provided for such a right by appellate rule or otherwise.
Rather, our Supreme Court has restricted the right of review in all appeals to those
raised in the briefs. N.C. R. App. 28(a).
The Supreme Court had the opportunity to create a right to an Anders-type
review in parental rights cases, but that Court has not done so. Specifically, in 2007,
we held that an indigent parent with a statutory right to counsel had no right to
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Anders procedures; but we urged “our Supreme Court or the General Assembly to
reconsider this issue.” In re N.B., 183 N.C. App. 114, 117, 644 S.E.2d 22, 24 (2007).
The General Assembly has not responded. Our Supreme Court did respond by
promulgating Rule 3.1(e), creating a right to some Anders-type procedures in the
termination of parental rights context. Specifically, where a party typically has no
right to file a separate brief when represented by counsel, our Supreme Court created
a right for an indigent parent to raise issues in a separate brief where that parent’s
counsel has filed a “no-merit” brief. N.C. R. App. 3.1(e). However, our Supreme
Court, in Rule 3.1(e), has not created any right for that parent to receive an Anders-
type review of the record by our Court for consideration of issues not explicitly raised
by the parent or that parent’s counsel.
Therefore, until our Supreme Court, by rule or holding, or our General
Assembly, by law, creates a right to an Anders-type review of issues not raised by the
parties or their counsel, we must follow our Supreme Court’s Rule 28(a), which limits
the right of appellants to a review of issues actually raised in the briefs.
This is not to say that we cannot exercise our discretion, pursuant to Rule 2, to
consider issues not properly raised in the briefs, which we do here.
In our discretion, we have reviewed the transcript and record. Based on our
review, we are unable to find any prejudicial error in the trial court’s order
terminating Father’s parental rights. The termination order contains sufficient
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findings of fact supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence to support the
conclusion that grounds exist to terminate Father’s parental rights based on neglect.
The trial court’s findings demonstrate that the children were previously adjudicated
neglected, and that Father did not take any steps to correct the conditions that led to
the children being removed from his care, but instead absconded from his probation
with Mother. See In re M.J.S.M., ___ N.C. App. ___, ___, 810 S.E.2d 370, 373 (2018)
(“A parent’s failure to make progress in completing a case plan is indicative of a
likelihood of future neglect.”). The trial court also made appropriate findings in
determining that the termination of Father’s parental rights was in the children’s
best interests. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a).
AFFIRMED.
Judges TYSON and BERGER concur.
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