In the Int. of: J.J., a Minor Appeal of: E.J. ( 2018 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INT. OF: J.J., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
APPEAL OF: E.J. :
:
:
:
:
: No. 1599 MDA 2017
Appeal from the Order Entered October 4, 2017
in the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County Orphans' Court at
No(s): CP-19-DP-0000049-2015
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., OLSON, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E. *
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED JUNE 04, 2018
Appellant, E.J., (“Mother”), appeals from the order entered on October
4, 2017, granting the petition filed by the Columbia County Children and Youth
Services (“CYS” or the “Agency”), changing the permanency goal from
reunification to adoption for her dependent, male child, J.J. (“Child”) (born in
September 2015) with C.M. (“Father”), pursuant to the Juvenile Act, 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 6351. We vacate and remand.
When Child was born in September 2015, Mother was a 17-year-old
adjudicated dependent, who was living in foster care.1 On September 14,
2015, the trial court held a hearing regarding whether to adjudicate Child
____________________________________________
1While the record does not provide an explanation for Mother’s dependency,
she states in her brief that it was based on her truancy from school. See
Mother’s Brief, at 10; 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302.
____________________________________
* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
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dependent, at which Attorney John McDanel represented Child as his guardian
ad litem, (“GAL”). Attorney Michael D. Wintersteen, Mother’s GAL for her own
dependency proceedings, was present and represented Mother. At each of the
subsequent permanency review hearings pertaining to Child, both Mother and
Child, and their respective GALs were present. When Mother turned 18 years
old in June 2016, she signed herself out of care with the Agency and moved
out of the foster home, leaving Child in the care of the foster parents. Mother
had no legal counsel or GAL at that point in time. On July 29, 2016, G.J.,
Mother’s former stepmother who has since adopted Mother, filed a counseled
petition to intervene in Child’s dependency case. On August 29, 2016, the
trial court denied G.J.’s petition to intervene.
In the meantime, on August 5, 2016, the Agency filed a petition for a
permanency review hearing, including the Permanency Plan (“PP”) dated July
20, 2016. On August 5, 2016, the trial court entered an order for permanency
review hearing, providing that the permanency review hearing would be held
on August 26, 2016. The order stated:
TAKE NOTICE
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO AN ATTORNEY AT ONCE. IF
YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE,
PLEASE CONTACT:
TAMI KLINE
Court Administrator
Columbia County Court House
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No request for appointment of pro bono counsel will be considered
over the telephone. All requests must be made by using the
proper form.
Order, 8/5/16 (emphasis in original). The record does not reflect that Mother
requested appointed counsel.
On August 26, 2016, the trial court held a permanency review hearing,
at which Child and his GAL were present, and Mother appeared, pro se. Father
was not present, nor was he represented by counsel. In the permanency
review order dated August 26, 2016 and entered on September 7, 2016, the
trial court found the continued placement of Child in the legal and physical
custody of the Agency in foster care was necessary and appropriate. The
order noted that the visitation between Mother and Child was suspended in
February 2016 based on Mother’s wish to have Child adopted.
On November 2, 2016, the Agency filed a petition for a permanency
review hearing, attaching a PP dated October 17, 2016. The record does not
reflect notice to the parties regarding the appointment of counsel. On
November 18, 2016, the trial court held a hearing, at which Child and his GAL
were present, and Mother appeared, pro se. Father was not present, nor was
he represented by counsel. On December 1, 2016, the trial court entered a
permanency review order, directing Child’s continued placement in foster
care. The order noted that the visitation between Mother and Child would be
supervised at the Agency’s office or at other locations.
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On February 3, 2017, the Agency filed a petition for a permanency
review hearing, which included a PP dated January 23, 2017. The record does
not reflect notice to the parties regarding the appointment of counsel. On
February 27, 2017, the trial court held a permanency review hearing, at which
Child and his GAL were present, as was Mother, acting pro se. Father did not
attend, nor was he represented by counsel. In the permanency review order
entered on March 11, 2017, dated February 27, 2017, the trial court found
the continued placement of Child in the legal and physical custody of the
Agency in foster care was necessary and appropriate.
On May 3, 2017, the Agency filed the petition to change Child’s
permanency goal to adoption. In addition, on May 5, 2017, the Agency filed
a petition for a permanency review hearing. Neither Agency petition included
notice regarding the parties’ right to counsel and/or any contact information
as to obtaining court-appointed counsel. In an order dated May 4, 2017 and
entered on May 5, 2017, the trial court scheduled the hearing on the goal
change petition to occur on July 31, 2017. The order provided the same notice
regarding requests for court-appointed counsel that was in the August 5, 2016
order. There is nothing in the record to establish that Mother requested the
appointment of counsel to represent her.
On May 26, 2017, the trial court held a permanency review hearing, at
which Child and his GAL were present, as was Mother, acting pro se. Father
did not attend, nor was he represented by counsel. On May 31, 2017, the
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trial court entered a permanency review order, dated May 26, 2017. The trial
court found the continued placement of Child in the legal and physical custody
of the Agency in foster care was necessary and appropriate. The order noted
that the visitation between Mother and Child would be supervised at the
Agency’s office or at other locations. Moreover, the trial court found that Child
had been in placement for approximately 20 months.
On August 3, 2017, the trial court entered an order re-scheduling the
hearing on the goal change petition from July 31, 2017 to October 2, 2017.
In the re-scheduling order, the trial court appointed Attorney Laura Pickle as
counsel for Mother, and Attorney Christine Luschas as counsel for Father.
On August 7, 2017, the Agency filed a petition for a permanency review
hearing. The petition did not include a notice of the parties’ right to court-
appointed counsel. In separate orders dated August 9, 2017 and entered on
August 10, 2017, the court stated Attorney Laura Pickle was appointed counsel
for Mother, and Attorney Christine Luschas was appointed counsel for Father.
On August 25, 2017, the trial court held a permanency review hearing.
Child and his GAL attended the hearing, as did Mother and Attorney Pickle.
Neither Father nor Attorney Luschas attended. On August 30, 2017, the trial
court entered a permanency review order, dated August 25, 2017, that
continued legal and physical custody of Child with the Agency in foster care.
The order noted that the visitation between Mother and Child would be
supervised at the Agency’s office or at other locations. Moreover, the trial
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court found that Child had been in placement for approximately 23 months.
Additionally, the order stated that the Child’s GAL concurred with the
recommendation of the Agency.
The trial court held a hearing on the goal change petition on October 2,
2017. Child and his GAL were present at the hearing, as were Mother and
Attorney Pickle. Attorney Luschas appeared on behalf of Father, who was not
present. At the hearing, the Agency presented the testimony of Elizabeth
Reams, the caseworker assigned to the case in December of 2015. The
Agency also presented the testimony of Brittany Hacker, who became the
caseworker in November of 2016. Mother testified on her own behalf.
Based on the testimonial and documentary evidence, the trial court set
forth the following factual findings and procedural history.
1. Petitioner is Columbia County Children and Youth Services
(“Agency”).
2. Respondent [Mother], the natural mother of the child, is 19
years old (DOB June [], 1998).
3. The natural father of the child is [Father]. He has not had
contact with the Agency since November 20, 2016, except for
notice of the hearing in 2017. He does not oppose the goal change
or adoption. He did not participate in the hearing. Counsel was
appointed to represent him.
4. [Child] was born [in September 2015]. Mother was a
dependent child at that time, in foster care herself. A few days
after the child was born, [C]hild and Mother were living in the
foster home where they had been residing. The [A]gency had
custody of both Mother and [C]hild. A few days later in September
2015, they moved to another foster home where [Child] has lived
continuously until the present time.
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5. The Agency put a Service Plan and Permanency Plan in place
on September 11, 2015. Per the plans, the parents’ goals were
to take care of [Child], attend parenting classes, and address their
mental health issues.
6. In November 2015, Mother moved to another foster home, at
her request, without [Child]. She indicated to the Agency that she
wished to have [Child] adopted. She continued to visit with
[Child] bi-weekly for a couple of months. In early, [sic] 2016, she
stopped the visits and reiterated her desire for adoption. In March
2016, Mother indicated that she might want to care for [Child].
But again, in May 2016, she told the Agency that she preferred
adoption.
7. Mother continued to attend high school from her foster home
and participated in a program that taught living skills for transition
to independent living after high school. There was a minor
parenting component to the classes. However, they were not
parenting classes. [Child] was on an adoption track through
November 2016.
8. In November 2016, Mother decided that she wanted [Child]
rather than have [Child] adopted. She has visited every other
week ever since. The foster parents who have been parenting
[Child] continue to be the sole source of support and nurture.
9. When she turned [18] in June 2016, Mother signed out of care
with the Agency and went to live with her mother. Through that
time, she provided no care for [Child]. She had only visited every
other Tuesday a few times.
10. In November 2016, Mother moved in with her ex-
stepmother[,] with whom she had a good relationship. She
continues to live there.
11. In April 2016, Mother was treated at the emergency room at
Susquehanna Health in Williamsport for cutting herself. She was
not admitted. The Agency recommended counselling and mobile
services. When she signed out of care in June 2016, she indicated
that she did not want to continue counselling.
12. The Permanency Plan was revised in June 2016. It required
Mother to cooperate with the agency; attend parenting classes;
address her mental health issues; and assure care and safety of
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[Child]. Through November 2016, except for the high school
class[,] which had ended, she did not attend parenting classes.
She did receive some counseling but stopped after June 2016.
She did not care for [Child] at all, but she cooperated with the
[A]gency.
13. In June 2017, the Permanency Plan was updated with the
same goals, and Mother reviewed it. Mother indicated that she
was still living with her stepmother and stepmother’s boyfriend.
She had a room set up for [Child] for his return and was expecting
to have another child in October 2017. The [f]ather of that child
was in the service based in Japan. He plans to be involved with
that child, although there are possible plans for a paternity test.
Mother had completed four parenting classes but had not
completed the parenting course of [ten] classes. She has
transportation problems since she has no license and no car. As
of June 2017, she graduated from high school. She is not
receiving any mental health treatment. She testified that she is
still depressed and looking into taking medication or getting
treatment.
14. Just prior to the present hearing, Mother’s stepmother and
stepmother’s boyfriend (who may now be married) adopted
Mother so that they would have standing in this case and possibly
a custody case. Stepmother had petitioned to intervene in this
case in July 2016. That petition was denied.
15. Mother had an attorney appointed for her at the
beginning of this case and during the case and for this
hearing. She had also consulted with her stepmother with
a private attorney during the case in 2016.
16. In the foster home, [Child] has bonded with the foster parents
who wish to adopt. [Child] is healthy and happy. [Child] has been
with the foster parents since days after his birth.
17. Mother has been in the presence of [Child] for less than 50
hours since she left [Child] with the foster parents in November
of 2015.
18. Mother’s progress on her goals has been extraordinarily slow
and incomplete. To date, she has not completed the mere [ten]
hours of parenting classes. She is not receiving or seeking needed
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mental health care. She has not [cared for], nor is she in a
position to care for[, Child].
19. By conduct continuing for a period of at least six months
immediately preceding the filing of the petition and continuing to
the present time, Mother has failed to perform parental duties or
to be capable of being a custodial parent.
20. The minor child has been removed from [Mother’s] care by
the court for a period of at least two years at this point and [18]
months at the time of the filing of the petition and the conditions
that led to the removal and placement of [Child] continue to exist
and Mother has not made substantial progress on meeting her
goals.
21. The services or assistance available to Mother are not likely to
remedy the conditions which led to the removal or placement
within a reasonable period.
22. Father has not attempted to meet any goals set for him and
has not had any meaningful contact at all with [Child].
23. Adoption would be in [Child’s] best interests.
24. The Children and Youth witnesses were credible.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/13/17, at 2-5 (emphasis added).
On October 4, 2017, the trial court entered an order, changing the
permanency goal for Child from reunification to adoption. On October 6, 2017,
Mother filed a motion for reconsideration in the trial court. In an order entered
on October 9, 2017, the trial court denied reconsideration.
On October 18, 2017, Mother timely filed a notice of appeal, but failed
to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). On October 19, 2017, the trial court directed
Mother to file a concise statement within 21 days. Mother timely complied,
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filing her concise statement on October 23, 2017. See In re K.T.E.L., 983
A.2d 745, 747 (Pa. Super. 2009) (“[T]here is no per se rule requiring quashal
or dismissal of a defective notice of appeal . . . .”). Cf. J.P. v. S.P., 991 A.2d
904 (Pa. Super. 2010) (appellant waived all issues by failing to timely comply
with the trial court’s direct order to file a concise statement).
In her brief on appeal, Mother raises the following issues:
1. Whether [M]other’s due process rights were violated when she
was not advised she had the right to counsel until a Petition to
Change Goal to Adoption was filed after approximately nineteen
months of her child being in the custody of Columbia County
Children and Youth[?]
2. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when granting
Agency’s Petition for Goal Change to Adoption when [M]other was
herself, [sic] a seventeen[-]year[-]old dependent child who opted
out of care and did not have the benefit of counsel until the goal
change petition [for Child] was filed[?]
Mother’s Brief at 2.
In her first issue, Mother asserts that, early in the dependency
proceedings involving Child, she was represented by her GAL in the
dependency case involving herself. Id. at 6. Mother states that, after she
was no longer a juvenile, the court did not advise her that she had a right to
a court-appointed attorney in the dependency matter involving Child for
several months, and it failed to appoint counsel for her until August 9, 2017.
Id. at 6. Mother claims that she was without representation in Child’s
dependency case for over one year, from June 2016 until August 2017. Id.
at 7. Mother asserts that the trial court, by failing to appoint counsel to
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represent her in Child’s dependency case, deprived her of due process of law.
Mother argues that, under the Juvenile Act, a party is entitled to
representation by legal counsel at all stages of any proceeding. Id. at 8, citing
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6337. Mother contends that, in dependency matters in
Pennsylvania, all parties have the right to representation by legal counsel, and
if a party does not have the financial means to hire an attorney, the court shall
appoint an attorney prior to the first court proceeding. Mother’s Brief at 8,
citing Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151(E). In her second issue, Mother claims that the trial
court abused its discretion by finding that she did not make substantial efforts
in meeting her goals for reunification, despite testimonial evidence to the
contrary. Mother’s Brief at 6-7and 13-17.
The Agency responds by arguing that the trial court properly determined
that Mother was afforded counsel and that she was not deprived of her
guarantee to due process, and that the court did not err or abuse its discretion
in granting the change of goal to adoption. Child’s GAL concurs with the
Agency. Father’s counsel, Attorney Luschas states that, since Father failed to
communicate with her, she was unable to present a position for Father.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court set forth our standard of review in a
dependency case as follows.
“The standard of review in dependency cases requires an appellate
court to accept findings of fact and credibility determinations of
the trial court if they are supported by the record, but does not
require the appellate court to accept the lower court’s inferences
or conclusions of law.” In re R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa.
2010). We review for abuse of discretion[.]
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In Interest of: L.Z., A Minor Child, 111 A.3d 1164, 1174 (Pa. 2015).
With regard to our review of a goal changes in a dependency case, this
Court recently set forth the following:
In cases involving a court’s order changing the [court-
ordered] goal . . . to adoption, our standard of review is
abuse of discretion. To hold that the trial court abused its
discretion, we must determine its judgment was manifestly
unreasonable, that the court disregarded the law, or that
its action was a result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will.
While this Court is bound by the facts determined in the
trial court, we are not tied to the court’s inferences,
deductions and conclusions; we have a responsibility to
ensure that the record represents a comprehensive inquiry
and that the hearing judge has applied the appropriate
principles to that record. Therefore, our scope of review is
broad.
In re S.B., 943 A.2d 973, 977 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citations
omitted); see also In re R.J.T., 9 A.3d [at 1190].
In In re A.K., 936 A.2d 528, 534 (Pa. Super. 2007), this Court
stressed that the focus of dependency proceedings is upon the
best interest of the children and that those considerations
supersede all other concerns, “including the conduct and the rights
of the parent.” Again, in In the Interest of D.P., 972 A.2d 1221,
1227 (Pa. Super. 2009), we explained, “In a change of goal
proceeding, the best interests of the child, and not the interests
of the parent, must guide the trial court, and the parent will
summon the ability to handle the responsibilities of parenting.”
In re N.C., 909 A.2d 818, 824 (Pa. Super. 2006) (quoting In re
Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1226, 1276 (Pa. Super. 2003)).
With those principles in mind, we outline the relevant
considerations set forth in the Juvenile Act regarding permanency
planning:
Pursuant to § 6351(f)[] of the Juvenile Act, when
considering a petition for a goal change for a dependent
child, the juvenile court is to consider, inter alia: (1) the
continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the
placement; (2) the extent of compliance with the family
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service plan; (3) the extent of progress made towards
alleviating the circumstances which necessitated the
original placement; (4) the appropriateness and feasibility
of the current placement goal for the children; (5) a likely
date by which the goal for the child might be achieved; (6)
the child’s safety; and (7) whether the child has been in
placement for at least fifteen of the last twenty-two
months.
In re A.B., 19 A.3d 1084, 1088-89 (Pa. Super. 2011).
Additionally, courts must consider whether reasonable efforts
were made to finalize the permanency plan in effect. See 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)(5.1).
In the Interest of L.T., 158 A.3d 1266, 1276-1277 (Pa. Super. 2017)
(footnote omitted).
Regarding the disposition of a dependent child, section 6351(e), (f),
(f.1), and (g) of the Juvenile Act provides the trial court with the criteria for
its permanency plan for the subject child. Pursuant to those subsections of
the Juvenile Act, the trial court is to determine the disposition that is best
suited to the safety, protection and physical, mental and moral welfare of the
child.
Regarding procedural due process, this Court has stated: “Due process
requires nothing more than adequate notice, an opportunity to be heard, and
the chance to defend oneself in an impartial tribunal having jurisdiction over
the matter.” In re J.N.F., 887 A.2d 775, 781 (Pa. Super. 2005). “Due process
is flexible and calls for such procedural protections as the situation demands.”
In re Adoption of Dale A., II, 683 A.2d 297, 300 (Pa. Super. 1996), citing
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Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976). Regarding substantive due
process, this Court has stated:
[I]n a dependency case, the liberty interest of [a parent] is not
at stake and the risk of erroneous adjudication is so substantially
mitigated by safeguards, reviews, and procedures directed toward
uniting the family, that due process requires a less didactic
approach than in criminal procedures. And, while a dependency
proceeding is adversarial in the sense that it places the state in
opposition to the parent with respect to the custody of the child .
. . it does not implicate the liberty interests of the parent or the
child as would be the case of a defendant in a criminal action.
In re M.B., 869 A.2d 542, 546-547 (Pa. Super. 2005) (internal citations and
quotation marks omitted). The due process protections afforded in a
dependency proceeding, therefore, are not as comprehensive as in a criminal
trial. Id.In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court considered Mother’s two
issues on appeal together, stating as follows:
The first issue raised by Mother is that she was denied [her] right
to counsel. This argument is incorrect and specious. At the
beginning of the case, Mother was appointed her own attorney.
(Tr. p. 66). She had an attorney through at least November 2016
(Tr. 76). She and her stepmother were in touch with a private
attorney in the summer at least of 2016. She had an attorney for
this hearing. She was not deprived of her right to counsel in any
way.
Second, Mother alleges abuse of discretion in finding that she did
not make substantial progress in achieving her goals for
reunification.
“If the child has been in placement for at least 15 of the
last 22 months or the court has determined that
aggravated circumstances exist and that reasonable efforts
to prevent or eliminate the need to remove the child from
the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or to preserve and
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reunify the family need not be made or continue to be
made, whether the county agency has filed or sought to
join a petition to terminate parental rights and to identify,
recruit, process and approve a qualified family to adopt the
child. . . .”
42 Pa.C.S. § 6351[.]
There is no termination petition filed. However, there is an
approved adoptive family, ready and willing to adopt. Mother and
Father have made no substantial progress to achieve the goals of
returning [Child] to Mother. The agency has tried for two years
to have Mother take parenting classes, obtain mental health
treatment, and be able to take care of [Child]. Minimal progress
has been made. Mother is young, but [Child’s] best interest is the
real concern. Father has in fact abandoned this case.
Parental duty requires that the parent act affirmatively
with good faith interest and effort, and not yield to every
problem, in order to maintain the parent-child relationship
to the best of his or her ability, even in difficult
circumstances. A parent must utilize all available
resources to preserve the parental relationship, and must
exercise reasonable firmness in resisting obstacles placed
in the path of maintaining the parent-child relationship.
Parental rights are not preserved by waiting for a more
suitable or convenient time to perform one’s parental
responsibilities while others provide the child with his or
her physical and emotional needs.
In re B., N.M. Appeal of B.L., supra (citations omitted). See
also, In re: E.M., 908 A.2d 297 (Pa. Super. 2006).
A parent is required to exert herself in maintaining contact and
exercise firmness in maintaining a relationship even in difficult
circumstances. In Re: E.M., 908 A.2d 297 (Pa.Super.2006).
In this case, Mother’s involvement with [Child] has been minimal.
For over a year, [Child] was on track to be adopted by foster
parents with whom he has now bonded. Mother has visited [Child]
in a supervised setting for fewer than [50] hours - about two days
- in two years. She has not completed parenting classes. She
has not addressed her mental health issues. She has not
established her ability in the least to care for [Child]. This court
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stated its thoughts on the record after the hearing in this matter,
albeit not terrifically artfully, but to the point. See Tr. pp. 104-
107.
In summary, Mother has not made substantial progress in
achieving the reunifications goals, and there is no indication that
she will address these issues and or achieve these goals anytime
soon. In the meantime, [Child] is growing and maturing in a well-
adjusted home, the only home he has known, where he has been
raised for over two years.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/13/17, at 5-7.
The Juvenile Act provides that a parent of the subject child in a
dependency case has a right to counsel, as does the subject child. The statute
regarding the right of a parent to counsel follows:
§ 6337. Right to counsel
. . . [A] party is entitled to representation by legal counsel at all
stages of any proceedings under this chapter [chapter 63] and if
he is without financial resources or otherwise unable to employ
counsel, to have the court provide counsel for him. If a party
other than a child appears at a hearing without counsel the court
shall ascertain whether he knows of his right thereto and to be
provided with counsel by the court if applicable. The court may
continue the proceeding to enable a party to obtain counsel.
Except as provided under section 6337.1 (relating to right to
counsel for children in dependency and delinquency proceedings),
counsel must be provided for a child. If the interests of two or
more parties may conflict, separate counsel shall be provided for
each of them.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6337.
The statute regarding the right of the child in a dependency proceeding
to counsel follows:
§ 6337.1 . Right to counsel for children in dependency and
delinquency proceedings
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(a) Children in dependency proceedings.—Legal counsel shall
be provided for child who is alleged or has been found to be a
dependent child in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of
Juvenile Court Procedure.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6337.1.
The Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure govern the
appointment of counsel in dependency proceedings. Rule 1151(E) provides
that a trial court must inform an unrepresented parent of his or her right to
counsel prior to any dependency proceeding and, if a party does not have the
financial means to retain a private attorney, the court shall appoint one for
her prior to the first proceeding.
E. Counsel for other parties. If counsel does not enter an
appearance for a party, the court shall inform the party of the
right to counsel prior to any proceeding. If counsel is requested
by a party in any case, the court shall assign counsel for the party
if the party is without financial resources or otherwise unable to
employ counsel. Counsel shall be appointed prior to the first court
proceeding.
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151(E).
The comment to Rule 1151 states as follows:
Pursuant to paragraph (E), the court is to inform all parties of the
right to counsel if they appear at a hearing without counsel. If a
party is without financial resources or otherwise unable to employ
counsel, the court is to appoint counsel prior to the proceeding.
Because of the nature of the proceedings, it is extremely
important that every “guardian” has an attorney. Therefore, the
court is to encourage the child’s guardian to obtain counsel.
Pursuant to Rule 1120, a guardian is any parent, custodian, or
other person who has legal custody of a child, or person
designated by the court to be a temporary guardian for purposes
of a proceeding. See Pa.R.J.C.P. 1120.
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151, Comment.
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Rule 1152 provides that a child or other party may only waive his or her
right to counsel if the trial court conducts an on-the-record colloquy, stating
as follows:
A. Children.
(1) Guardian ad litem. A child may not waive the right to
a guardian ad litem.
(2) Legal Counsel. A child may waive legal counsel if:
(a) the waiver is knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily made; and
(b) the court conducts a colloquy with the child on the
record.
B. Other parties. Except as provided in paragraph (A), a party
may waive the right to counsel if:
(1) the waiver is knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
made; and
(2) the court conducts a colloquy with the party on the
record.
C. Stand-by counsel. The court may assign stand-by counsel if
a party waives counsel at any proceeding or stage of a proceeding.
D. Notice and revocation of waiver. If a party waives counsel
for any proceeding, the waiver only applies to that proceeding,
and the party may revoke the waiver of counsel at any time. At
any subsequent proceeding, the party shall be informed of the
right to counsel.
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1152.2
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2The comment to Rule 1152 provides a list of questions that trial courts should
ask to ascertain whether a parent’s waiver of counsel is knowing, intelligent,
and voluntary. See Pa.R.J.C.P. 1152, Comment.
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Section 6311 of the Juvenile Act provides for the appointment of a GAL
for the subject child in dependency proceedings, as follows:
§ 6311. Guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings.
(a) Appointment.--When a proceeding, including a master’s
hearing, has been initiated alleging that the child is a dependent
child under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (10) of the definition of
“dependent child” in section 6302 (relating to definitions), the
court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the legal
interests and the best interests of the child. The guardian ad litem
must be an attorney at law.
(b) Powers and duties.--The guardian ad litem shall be
charged with representation of the legal interests and the best
interests of the child at every stage of the proceedings and shall
do all of the following:
(1) Meet with the child as soon as possible following
appointment pursuant to section 6337 (relating to right to
counsel) and on a regular basis thereafter in a manner
appropriate to the child’s age and maturity.
(2) On a timely basis, be given access to relevant court
and county agency records, reports of examination of the
parents or other custodian of the child pursuant to this
chapter and medical, psychological and school records.
(3) Participate in all proceedings, including hearings
before masters, and administrative hearings and reviews
to the degree necessary to adequately represent the child.
(4) Conduct such further investigation necessary to
ascertain the facts.
(5) Interview potential witnesses, including the child’s
parents, caretakers and foster parents, examine and cross-
examine witnesses and present witnesses and evidence
necessary to protect the best interests of the child.
(6) At the earliest possible date, be advised by the county
agency having legal custody of the child of:
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(i) any plan to relocate the child or modify custody
or visitation arrangements, including the reasons
therefor, prior to the relocation or change in
custody or visitation; and
(ii) any proceeding, investigation or hearing under
23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child protective
services) or this chapter directly affecting the child.
(7) Make specific recommendations to the court relating to the
appropriateness and safety of the child’s placement and services
necessary to address the child's needs and safety.
(8) Explain the proceedings to the child to the extent appropriate
given the child’s age, mental condition and emotional condition.
(9) Advise the court of the child’s wishes to the extent that they
can be ascertained and present to the court whatever evidence
exists to support the child’s wishes. When appropriate because of
the age or mental and emotional condition of the child, determine
to the fullest extent possible the wishes of the child and
communicate this information to the court. A difference between
the child’s wishes under this paragraph and the recommendations
under paragraph (7) shall not be considered a conflict of interest
for the guardian ad litem.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6311 (emphasis added).
The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Procedure Rule 1154 provides the
duties of the GAL as follows:
Rule 1154. Duties of Guardian Ad Litem
A guardian ad litem shall:
(1) Meet with the child as soon as possible following assignment
pursuant to Rule 1151 and on a regular basis thereafter in a
manner appropriate to the child’s age and maturity;
***
(7) Make any specific recommendations to the court relating to
the appropriateness and safety of the child's placement and
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services necessary to address the child's needs and safety,
including the child’s educational, health care, and disability needs;
(8) Explain the proceedings to the child to the extent appropriate
given the child’s age, mental condition, and emotional condition;
and
(9) Advise the court of the child’s wishes to the extent that they
can be ascertained and present to the court whatever evidence
exists to support the child’s wishes. When appropriate because of
the age or mental and emotional condition of the child, determine
to the fullest extent possible the wishes of the child and
communicate this information to the court.
Comment: If there is a conflict of interest between the
duties of the guardian ad litem pursuant to paragraphs (7) and
(9), the guardian ad litem for the child may move the court for
appointment as legal counsel and assignment of a separate
guardian ad litem when, for example, the information that the
guardian ad litem possesses gives rise to the conflict and can be
used to the detriment of the child. If there is not a conflict of
interest, the guardian ad litem represents the legal interests and
best interests of the child at every stage of the proceedings. 42
Pa.C.S. § 6311(b). To the extent 42 Pa.C.S. § 6311(b)(9) is
inconsistent with this rule, it is suspended. See Rules 1151 and
1800. See also Pa.R.P.C. 1.7 and 1.8.
“Legal interests” denotes that an attorney is to express the child’s
wishes to the court regardless of whether the attorney agrees with
the child’s recommendation. “Best interests” denotes that a
guardian ad litem is to express what the guardian ad litem
believes is best for the child’s care, protection, safety, and
wholesome physical and mental development regardless of
whether the child agrees.
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1154 and comment.
Recently, our Supreme Court, in In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d
172 (Pa. 2017) (plurality), held that section 2313(a) of the Adoption Act,
pertaining to the involuntary termination of parental rights, requires the trial
court to appoint counsel to represent the legal interests of any child involved
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in a contested involuntary termination proceeding. See 23 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 2313(a). The Court defined a child’s legal interest as synonymous with his
or her preferred outcome. The L.B.M. Court did not overrule this Court’s
holding in In re K.M., 53 A.3d 781 (Pa. Super. 2012), in which we held that
a GAL who is an attorney may act as counsel pursuant to section 2313(a) as
long as the dual roles do not create a conflict between the child’s best interest
and legal interest.
In the opinion announcing the judgment of the Court, Justice Wecht
stated the following:
In dependency cases where the trial court is required to appoint a
GAL, the GAL must be an attorney. 42 Pa.C.S. § 6311(a). The
GAL is authorized by statute to represent both the child’s legal
interests and the child’s best interests. Id. The GAL makes
recommendations to the court regarding the child’s placement and
needs, and must advise the court of the child’s wishes, if
ascertainable. 42 Pa.C.S. § 6311(b). Further, the statute
explicitly provides that any difference between the child’s wishes
and the GAL’s recommendations “shall not be considered a conflict
of interest.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6311(b)(9).4
___________________________________________________
4
Although Section 6311(b)(9) specifically provides that the
dependency GAL has no conflict of interest when the child’s best
interests and legal interests diverge, this Court has suggested
that, in such a instances, the GAL should request appointment of
legal counsel. Pa.R.J.C.P. 1154 cmt. Indeed, we have suspended
Section 6311(b)(9) to the extent that it conflicts with the rule. Id.
cmt.
In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.2d at 175 (footnote in original).
The permanency review hearing held on August 26, 2016 was the first
juvenile dependency proceeding involving Child as the subject dependent child
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after Mother was no longer dependent and no longer had her court-appointed
GAL. The Agency’s petition for a permanency review hearing filed on August
5, 2016, included a notice to the parties regarding the right to counsel. The
trial court’s scheduling order, entered on that same date, gave notice to the
parties concerning the right to appointed counsel. There is nothing in the
record that indicates Mother contacted the court to request appointed counsel.
There is, likewise, nothing in the record that would establish that the trial
court complied with the mandates of section 6337 of the Juvenile Act and
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151(E) in ascertaining whether Mother understood her right, as
a party-parent, to have appointed counsel, and desired to waive her right to
appointed counsel.3 The Agency’s goal change petition filed on May 3, 2017
did not include a notice to the parties regarding the right to counsel. The trial
court’s May 4, 2017 scheduling order provided notice to Mother of her right to
counsel; however, there is nothing in the record to demonstrate whether
Mother requested counsel. The trial court did not appoint counsel to represent
Mother until its August 3, 2017 order re-scheduling the hearing on the goal
change petition.
____________________________________________
3 In this respect, the procedural posture of the instant case differs from that
in In re Adoption of J.N.F., 887 A.2d at 778, in which a father, who was
incarcerated at the time, was not present at the termination hearing, nor was
he represented by counsel. In J.N.F., the father failed to respond to the notice
in the termination petition informing him of his right to counsel. A panel of
this Court ruled that the father had waived his right to counsel.
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As an explanation for its failure to appoint counsel for Mother, the trial
court stated, “Mother had an attorney appointed for her at the beginning of
this case and during the case and for this hearing. She had also consulted
with her stepmother with a private attorney during the case in 2016. . . .”
This explanation does not comport with the requirements of section 6337 of
the Juvenile Act and Rule 1151(E) of the Pa.R.J.C.P. In the dependency
proceedings regarding Child, after Mother was no longer a dependent child
herself, she was no longer represented by her GAL, Attorney Wintersteen.
Mother was not represented by counsel at four of the five permanency review
hearings involving Child spanning a 14-month period. She appeared at those
hearings pro se. The undisputed fact that Mother’s former stepmother, now
her adoptive mother, had consulted with a private attorney in 2016 does not
obviate the need to comply with the provisions of section 6337 and Rule
1151(E) regarding appointment of counsel for Mother. After the court
appointed Attorney Pickle to represent Mother on August 3, 2017, Mother
accepted the representation. Attorney Pickle appeared and represented
Mother at the permanency review hearing on August 25, 2017, and at the goal
change hearing on October 2, 2017.
Further, Mother argues that, while she was still a dependent child, she
never had a court-appointed legal counsel, separate from her own GAL,
Attorney Wintersteen, in Child’s dependency proceedings. See Mother’s Brief
at 8-11. Mother contends that the trial court did not appreciate the potential
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conflict of interest presented by her GAL from her own dependency
proceedings, Attorney Wintersteen, advising her with regard to the
dependency proceedings in which her son was the subject. Id. As Mother’s
dependency proceedings concluded in June of 2016, we may not address
whether the attorney appointed to represent her as a GAL in her own
dependency proceedings had a conflict of interest in representing her with
regard to Child’s dependency proceedings. As the trial court failed to comply
with the mandates of section 6337 of the Juvenile Act and Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151(E)
by failing to appoint counsel for Mother as a party to the juvenile dependency
proceedings involving Child after she was no longer represented by Attorney
Wintersteen, and the court failed to ascertain whether she desired appointed
counsel or was waiving her right to appointed counsel, we must vacate the
order changing Child’s permanency goal to adoption, and remand the matter
to the trial court for further juvenile dependency proceedings regarding Child.
If Attorney Pickle is no longer able to represent Mother in the dependency
proceedings, then new counsel must be appointed for Mother unless Mother
knowingly intelligently and voluntarily waives her right to counsel.
Accordingly, we vacate the trial court order changing Child’s
permanency goal to adoption, and we remand the matter for further juvenile
dependency proceedings involving Child in the trial court.
Order vacated. Appeal remanded to the trial court for further juvenile
dependency proceedings regarding Child. Jurisdiction relinquished.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 06/04/2018
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