P.W. v. Department of Family and Protective Services

Opinion issued April 23, 2013.
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
NO. 01-11-00603-CV
P.W., Appellant
V.
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, Appellee
On Appeal from the 313th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 1002874J
OPINION
The Department of Family and Protective Services sought termination of
P.W.’s parental rights to her children, Z.N.W. and R.K.T. After a bench trial, the
trial court concluded that the Department had proved by clear and convincing
evidence that there were grounds for termination of P.W.’s parental rights and that
termination was in the children’s best interest. Accordingly, the trial court
terminated P.W.’s parental rights. P.W. challenges the trial court’s judgment
terminating her parental rights on the basis that she received ineffective assistance
of counsel. We affirm.
Background
In 2007, P.W. was arrested in a narcotics sting. P.W. brought Z.N.W., her
four-month-old child, with her to the drug deal. P.W. was charged with a third-
degree felony of possession of a controlled substance. She received deferred
adjudication community supervision in the spring of 2009, a few months before
R.K.T. was born.
The Department first opened a case shortly after P.W.’s 2007 arrest. In
April 2010, the Department filed suit seeking termination of P.W.’s parental
2
rights.1 At the initial hearing, the trial court ordered P.W. to comply with the
Department’s service plan. The plan required P.W. to refrain from using illegal
drugs, submit to drug screenings, and complete outpatient and inpatient drug
rehabilitation. The trial court incorporated these same requirements into a June
2010 order. In a subsequent meeting with her Department caseworker, P.W.
admitted that she had used marijuana and Xanax. The caseworker ordered a drug
screening, and P.W. tested positive for marijuana, cocaine, and benzodiazepine. A
hair follicle drug screening a few months later yielded a positive result for the
presence of cocaine. Concerning the other requirements of the service plan and the
court order, P.W. completed the outpatient rehab, but not the inpatient.
At trial, Alvincher Willis, who was the case worker assigned to P.W.’s case,
testified that, although the Department attempted to work with P.W., P.W. did not
work with the Department. Willis did, however, acknowledge that P.W. had made
some progress on her service plan before being imprisoned in January. An
affidavit from one of P.W.’s previous caseworkers, which was made part of the
trial court’s record, corroborates Willis’s statement that P.W. did not work with the
Department. In the affidavit, the caseworker noted the difficulty caseworkers
1
The Department also sought to establish the paternity of the boys’ father, R.T., and
to terminate his parental rights. In its final judgment, the trial court adjudged R.T.
the father and terminated his parental rights. R.T. has not appealed.
3
experienced trying to contact P.W. Despite the Department’s attempts to contact
her through phone calls and messages, P.W. often failed to respond. Once, when
they were on the way to P.W.’s apartment, the caseworker and a uniformed law
enforcement officer passed P.W. and R.K.T. in the parking lot, but the caseworker
did not recognize them. When she realized the caseworker and officer were
heading to her apartment, P.W. attempted to load R.K.T into a car and flee. The
officer had to stop P.W. and escort her to the Department in order for the
caseworker to speak with her about the case.
The children were initially placed with P.W.’s grandmother, but have been
in a foster home since October 2010. The foster mother testified that the boys
were doing “perfect” in the foster home. The foster family indicated a desire to
adopt the children, should P.W.’s parental rights be terminated.
P.W. failed to report to her community supervision officer during her
deferred adjudication community supervision. As a result, in January 2011, the
trial court adjudicated P.W. guilty on the possession charge and sentenced her to
four years’ imprisonment.
The trial court held a bench trial on June 14, 2011. P.W. was represented by
appointed counsel. Counsel cross-examined Willis, the Department’s primary
witness. Counsel objected to some of the questions posed to Willis by the
4
Department and by the attorney ad litem for the children. Counsel also called and
conducted direct examination of P.W. and presented argument at the close of
evidence.
The trial court found the following grounds for termination:
[P.W.] knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the children to remain
in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical or
emotional well-being of the children, pursuant to § 161.00l(l)(D),
Texas Family Code;
[P.W.] engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the children with
persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or
emotional well-being of the children, pursuant to § 161.00l(l)(E),
Texas Family Code; [and]
[P.W.] knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that has resulted in
[her] conviction of an offense and confinement or imprisonment and
inability to care for the children for not less than two years from the
date of filing the petition, pursuant to §161.001(1)(Q), Texas Family
Code[.]
The trial court also found the Department had proved by clear and convincing
evidence that termination was in the children’s best interest. The trial court
terminated P.W.’s parental rights and appointed the Department the sole managing
conservator for the children. P.W. appeals.
5
Analysis
A. Termination of Parental Rights
In order to terminate parental rights under section 161.001 of the Family
Code, the petitioner must establish that the parent engaged in conduct enumerated
in one or more of the subsections of section 161.001(1) and must also show that
termination of the parent-child relationship is in the best interest of the child. TEX.
FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (West Supp. 2012); In re E.N.C., 384 S.W.3d 796, 803
(Tex. 2012). A factfinder need find only one ground under section 161.001(1) to
support a judgment of termination, if there is also a finding that termination is in
the child’s best interest. In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003).
Because of the importance and constitutional implications of parental rights,
grounds for termination must be proved by clear and convincing evidence rather
than the lower preponderance of the evidence standard applicable in most civil
cases. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001; In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 23 (Tex. 2002).
Clear and convincing evidence refers to a degree of proof that will produce in the
mind of the factfinder a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations
sought to be proved. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 25.
6
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
“In Texas, there is a statutory right to counsel for indigent persons in
parental-rights termination cases.” In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d 534, 544 (Tex. 2003);
see TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 107.013(a)(1) (West Supp. 2012). The supreme court
has held this right to counsel “embodies the right to effective counsel.” Id. To
evaluate claims of ineffective assistance in parental-rights termination cases, the
supreme court adopted the ineffective assistance standard applied in criminal cases,
the test of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984). In re
M.S., 115 S.W.3d at 545. To show ineffective assistance of counsel under
Strickland, the defendant has the burden to show both that counsel’s performance
was deficient and that counsel’s deficient performance caused harm. Id. (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064); see also In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d
336, 344 (Tex. 2009) (emphasizing ineffective assistance claim requires defendant
to make requisite showing under both prongs of Strickland). Cf. Rylander v. State,
101 S.W.3d 107, 110 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-
889, 104 S. Ct. at 2064, 2068) (stating ineffective assistance claim requires
showing “1) that counsel’s performance was deficient because it fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness; and 2) a probability sufficient to undermine
7
confidence in the outcome existed that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different”).
In reviewing counsel’s performance, we must indulge “‘a strong
presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance,’ including the possibility that counsel’s actions are
strategic.” In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d at 545 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104
S. Ct. at 2065). When the record is silent concerning the reasons for counsel’s
actions, we may not speculate to find trial counsel ineffective. Walker v. Tex.
Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 312 S.W.3d 608, 623 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2009, pet. denied) (citing Gamble v. State, 916 S.W.2d 92, 93 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet.)); see also Maxwell v. Tex. Dep’t of
Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-11-00242-CV, 2012 WL 987787, at *6 (Tex.
App.—Austin Mar. 23, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Rylander, 101 S.W.3d at
110–11) (“When the record is silent as to counsel’s subjective motivations, courts
will ordinarily presume that the challenged action might be considered sound trial
strategy.”). Cf. Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994)
(refusing to speculate to find counsel’s actions deficient).
Under the second prong of the Strickland inquiry, we must review the record
to determine whether counsel’s deficient performance harmed the defendant. In re
8
M.S., 115 S.W.3d at 549–50 (citing Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2001)). A defendant is harmed when “there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional error(s), the result of the proceeding would
have been different.” Id. at 556 (quoting Garcia, 57 S.W.3d at 440). A
“reasonable probability” is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome of the proceeding. In re V.V., 349 S.W.3d 548, 559 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2010, pet. denied) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at
2068). Cf. Rylander, 101 S.W.3d at 110 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.
Ct. at 2068) (stating second prong of Strickland requires showing of “probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome existed that, but for counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different”).
C. Analysis
1. The Cronic Presumption
P.W. complains that her trial counsel actually worked against P.W.’s interest
and helped the Department advance its case, thereby falling below the objective
standard of reasonableness required by the first prong of Strickland. Indeed, she
argues that her trial counsel’s performance was so deficient that we should ignore
the second prong of Strickland and presume harm, under United States v. Cronic,
466 U.S. 648, 104 S. Ct. 2039 (1984). The Department responds that P.W. failed
9
to meet either the first or second prong of Strickland and that Cronic should not
apply because it derives from the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, which does
not apply in civil cases. See Turner v. Rogers, 131 S. Ct. 2507, 2516 (2011)
(“[T]he Sixth Amendment does not govern civil cases.”); Travelers Indem. Co. v.
Mayfield, 923 S.W.2d 590, 594 (Tex. 1996) (noting that Texas supreme court
“ha[s] never held that a civil litigant must be represented by counsel” to meet
constitutional requirements); see also Lassiter v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 452 U.S. 18,
26–27, 101 S. Ct. 2153, 2159 (1981) (“[A]n indigent litigant has a right to
appointed counsel only when, if he loses, he may be deprived of his physical
liberty.”).
Cronic applies where there has been an actual or constructive denial of
counsel. 2 Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659, 104 S. Ct. at 2047.
Under Cronic and its progeny, a defendant is denied counsel not only
when his attorney is physically absent from the proceeding, but when
he is mentally absent as well, i.e., counsel is asleep, unconscious, or
otherwise actually non compos mentis. This prong of Cronic is
epitomized by the “inert” or “potted plant” lawyer who, although
2
Although not applicable to this case, Cronic also applies to “[c]ircumstances . . .
when although counsel is available to assist the accused during trial, the likelihood
that any lawyer, even a fully competent one, could provide effective assistance is
so small that a presumption of prejudice is appropriate without inquiry into the
actual conduct of the trial.” Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 629–60 104 S. Ct. 2039, 2048
(1984) (identifying Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 S. Ct. 55 (1932), as such a
case).
10
physically and mentally present in the courtroom, fails to provide (or
is prevented from providing) any meaningful assistance.
Ex parte McFarland, 163 S.W.3d 743, 752 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (citations
omitted). For example, the Court of Criminal Appeals applied Cronic when
defense counsel, claiming he had not had adequate time to prepare, refused to
participate in trial. Cannon v. State, 252 S.W.3d 342, 350 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
Counsel, “although physically present in the courtroom at all the requisite times,
effectively boycotted the trial proceedings and entirely failed to subject the
prosecution’s case to meaningful adversarial testing.” Id. Cronic itself dealt with
“state interference with counsel’s assistance,” such as limiting cross-examination
of the State’s key witness on the witness’s credibility, an issue going to the heart of
the case. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 692, 104 S. Ct. at 2067 (citing Cronic, 466
U.S. at 659, 104 S. Ct. at 2046–47).
That is, for Cronic to apply, counsel’s failure to test the prosecution’s case
“must be complete.” See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 697, 122 S. Ct. 1843, 1851
(2002); Cannon, 252 S.W.3d at 350 (applying Cronic where defense counsel
“entirely failed” to test State’s case); see also Burdine v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 336,
345 (5th Cir. 2001) (en banc) (distinguishing between total lack of counsel and
ineffective assistance of counsel; noting that prejudice is presumed only “when,
during a critical stage of a trial, counsel is either (1) totally absent, or (2) present
11
but prevented from providing effective assistance”). This is because “bad
lawyering, regardless of how bad, does not support the [Cronic] presumption; more
is required.” McInerney v. Puckett, 919 F.2d 350, 353 (5th Cir. 1990) (emphasis in
original)); In re L.D.G., No. 12-11-00005-CV, 2012 WL 171888, at *2 (Tex.
App.—Tyler Jan. 18, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.); see also In re V.V., 349 S.W.3d at
560 (refusing to apply Cronic in case where counsel had not “entirely failed” to
subject Department’s case to adversarial testing).
Here, P.W.’s argument is not that her counsel failed to oppose the
Department throughout the termination proceeding as a whole, but that her
counsel’s attempts to do so were so misguided or unreasonable that they amounted
to no representation by counsel. P.W. argues that her counsel “allied herself with
the proponents of terminating her own client’s parental rights.” For example, P.W.
faults her counsel for not inquiring further into why her relatives were rejected as
care-givers following the Department’s home studies and for failing to ask why
other home studies were not conducted. P.W. also asserts that counsel’s
questioning of Willis actually supported the Department’s request for termination
of P.W.’s parental rights, especially because it essentially established that none of
P.W.’s relatives were fit to have the children placed with them.
12
This is not an argument that counsel was “inert” or “entirely failed” to test
the Department’s case; rather it is an argument that counsel’s actions fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness. To evaluate P.W.’s argument, we must
necessarily review counsel’s actual performance at trial. Therefore, we conclude
that P.W.’s claim of ineffectiveness in this case falls squarely within the type of
claim governed by Strickland, and Cronic does not apply. Compare Strickland,
466 U.S. at 690, 104 S. Ct. at 2066 (stating that court reviewing claim of
ineffectiveness “must judge the reasonableness of counsel’s challenged conduct on
the facts of the particular case”) with Cronic, 466 U.S. at 662, 104 S. Ct. at 2048
(stating that in certain cases “surrounding circumstances justify a presumption of
ineffectiveness . . . without inquiry into counsel’s actual performance at trial”)
(emphasis added). Accordingly, we reject P.W.’s contention that we should
presume harm under Cronic and dispose with our analysis under Strickland’s
second prong. See In re V.V., 349 S.W.3d at 560; In re L.D.G., 2012 WL 171888,
at *2.
2. Application of Strickland
Having concluded that Cronic does not apply and that P.W. bore the burden
to satisfy Strickland’s test, we conclude that we must affirm. P.W. has not
satisfied Strickland’s first prong because the record is silent about trial counsel’s
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reasons for the challenged conduct. That is, there was no motion for new trial
hearing and no affidavit from trial counsel. We may not speculate to find counsel
ineffective on a silent record. Walker, 312 S.W.3d at 623.
P.W. likewise failed to carry her burden on Strickland’s second prong.
Indeed, P.W. has made no attempt to explain how, but for counsel’s purportedly
deficient performance, she had a reasonable probability of a different outcome. In
her brief, P.W. concedes that the evidence is sufficient to support termination
under Texas Family Code section 161.001(1)(Q). Termination on this ground was
based on the undisputed fact that P.W. has been sentenced to four years’
imprisonment, and she does not contend that anything her counsel did or failed to
do would affect this determination. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(Q)
(providing for termination when parent is convicted for knowingly engaging in
criminal conduct and confinement for not less than two years).3
3 In addition, there is evidence to support the other grounds for termination, namely
that P.W. knowingly placed the children in conditions or surroundings which
endangered the physical or emotional well-being of the children or engaged in
conduct which endangered the physical or emotional well-being of the children.
See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D), (E). P.W. admitted to using drugs
both before and after the trial court ordered her to cease using drugs as part of her
family services plan. See Robinson v. Tex. Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory
Servs., 89 S.W.3d 679, 686–87 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.)
(holding “that appellant’s illegal drug activity, a violation of community
supervision after agreeing not to commit such acts in the Plan for reunification
with her children, established clear and convincing proof of voluntary, deliberate,
and conscious conduct that endangered the well-being of her children”); In re
14
The evidence also supports a finding that termination of P.W.’s parental
rights is in the best interests of the children. Factors relevant to the determination
of whether termination is in the best interest of the children include: the emotional
and physical danger to the children now and in the future; the parental abilities of
the individuals seeking custody; the programs available to assist these individuals
to promote the best interest of the child; the plans for the child by these individuals
or by the agency seeking custody; the stability of the home or proposed placement;
and the acts or omissions of the parent which may indicate that the existing parent-
child relationship is not a proper one. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 372 (Tex.
1976). P.W. continued to use drugs in the face of a court order conditioning her
reunification on her ability to remain drug-free. See In re G.A., No. 01-11-00565-
CV, 2012 WL 1068630, at *6 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 29, 2012, pet.
denied) (mem. op.) (citing Edwards v. Tex. Dep’t of Protective Servs., 946 S.W.2d
130, 138 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997, no writ)) (parent’s drug use is condition that
can endanger child’s to physical or emotional well-being and indicate instability in
home environment.; see also In re J.T.G., 121 S.W.3d 117, 125 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2003, no pet.) (evidence of parent’s illegal drug use supports conclusion
J.T.G., 121 S.W.3d 117, 125 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, no pet.) (holding that
parent’s illegal drug use and drug-related criminal activity support a conclusion
that the children’s surroundings endanger their physical or emotional well-being).
15
that environment endangers physical or emotional well-being of children).
Additionally, P.W.’s drug use caused her to be sentenced to four years’
imprisonment. See In re M.R., 243 S.W.3d 807, 821 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2007, no pet.) (parent’s incarceration is appropriate factor to consider in making
best interest determination); see also In re V.V., 349 S.W.3d at 555 (parent’s
pattern of criminal conduct resulting in incarceration is conduct that endangers
well-being of children).
Although a case had been open for almost three and a half years at time of
trial, and a termination suit had been pending for over a year, P.W. did not
consistently work towards completing the requirements of her service plan and did
not contact the Department despite caseworkers’ numerous attempts to meet with
her. See In re A.B., 269 S.W.3d 120, 129 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.)
(failure to comply with service plan and refusal to meet with caseworkers among
factors supporting a finding that termination was in child’s best interest). Finally,
there was evidence that the children were doing very well in the foster home and
that the foster family planned to adopt them. In re M.R., 243 S.W.3d at 821
(evidence children had improved in care of foster family supported trial court’s
determination that termination was in children’s best interest).
16
P.W. does not dispute this evidence or contend that it was admitted due to
her trial counsel’s deficient performance. Nor does P.W. identify any favorable
evidence that counsel should have introduced but did not. Accordingly, we
conclude that P.W. has not met her burden under Strickland’s second prong. See
In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d at 344; In re V.V., 349 S.W.3d at 559 (citing J.O.A.); see
also In re L.D.G., 2012 WL 171888, at *1–2 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687,
104 S. Ct. at 2064) (stating parent must show, in addition to deficient performance,
that “counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defense” and affirming where
only harm argument made on appeal was argument to apply Cronic presumption).
Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
_____________________________
Rebeca Huddle
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Sharp, and Huddle.
17