1 ... S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 7 - 2 8 7 - CV
I N TH E I N TEREST O F J .C ., J R . A N D A .C .

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FR O M THE 323RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- A ppel l ant s Jessi ca and Joseph C . appeal t he t er m i nat i on of t hei rpar ent al
r ig h t s t o J .C ., J r . a n d A .C . T h e t r ia l c o u rtf o u n d t h a t a p p e l la n t sk n o w in g ly pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed th e ch i l dr en t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsor su r r ou n d i n g s w hi ch end ang er ed t hei rphy si ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng, an d engag ed i n cond uct or know i ngl y pl aced t he chi l dr en w i t h per sons w ho eng aged2 ... S eeTex. Fa m . Code Ann. § 161 .0 0 1 (1) ( D ) &( E) ( V er non Supp .

2 0 0 8 ).

3 ... See Id. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). 4 ... Id. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) &(2 ); I n re J. L. , 1 6 3 S .W .3 d 7 9 , 8 4(T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). 2 i n c onduc tw hi ch end ang er ed t hei r phys i ca l or em ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng. 2The t r i al cou rtf urt herf o u n d th a t t er m i nat i on ofap pel l ant s’ pa r ent alr i ght s i s i n t he c h i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. 3 I n t w o i ssues, Jessi ca cont ends t hatt he evi dence supp ort i ng t he t r i al court ’ s f i ndi ngs i s l egal l y and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci ent . Joseph’ s court - appo i nt ed appel l at e counsel has f i l ed a m ot i on to w i t hdr aw and a suppo rt i ng br i ef p r e s e n t in g p o t e n t ia l is s u e sw h e t h e rt h e e v id e n c e isle g a lly a n d f a c t u a lly su fficien t , an d w het hert r i alco uns elpr ovi ded co ns t i t ut i ona l l y i nef f ec t i ve a s s i s t a n c e . We a f f i r m. ST ANDARDS OFRE VI E W F OR L E GALAND F ACTUALSUF F I CI E NCY

C H A LL EN G ES I N TERM I N A TI O N CA SES I n pr oceedi ngs t o t er m i nat e t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, t he S t at e m ust e s t a b lis h o n e o rm o r e o ft h e a c t so ro m is s io n s e n u m e r a t e d u n d e r T e x a sF a m ily C ode sect i on 1 61 . 00 1, and m ustal so pr ove th att er m i nat i on i s i n t he best i nt er es toft he chi l d. 4Thes e e l em ent s m us t b e es t abl i sh ed by c l ea ran d5 ... T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); J. L. , 163

S. W . 3d a t84.

6 ... T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 0 1 .0 0 7 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). 7 ... I n reJ. P. B. , 1 8 0 S .W .3 d 5 7 0 , 5 7 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). 8 ... Id. 9 ... Id. 10 ... Id. 11 ... Id. 3 convi nci ng evi dence, 5 d e f in e d a st h e “ m e a s u r e o rd e g r e e o fp r o o ft h a tw ill p rod u c e i n the m i n d o f th e tr i e r o f fac t a fi rm b e l i e f o r c o n v i c ti o n a s to the tr u th o f th e a l l e g a ti o n ss o u g h t to b e e s ta b l i s h e d .” 6 I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r en t alt er m i nat i on c a s e s , w e m u s t d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r t h e e v id e n c e iss u c h t h a ta f a c t f in d e rc o u ld
r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m b e l i eforco nvi ct i on t hatt he gr oundsf ort er m i nat i on w er e p r ove n. 7W e m u st rev i e w a l l th e e v i d e n c e i n the l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to th e fi n d i n g an d j u d g m e n t. 8Thi s m ea ns th a t w e m us tas su m e t hatt he f a c t f in d e rre s o lv e d a n yd is p u t e d f a c t sin f a v o ro fit sf in d in g ifa re a s o n a b le f a c tfin d e r co ul d ha ve dones o. 9W e m u st a l so d i sre g a rd a l l ev i d e n c e tha t a r ea so nab l e f ac t f i nde rco ul d ha ve di sb el i eve d. 10 W e m u s t c o n s i d e r, h o w e v e r, undi sp ut ed evi den ceev en i fi ti s con t r ary t o t he f i ndi ng. 1112 ... I nreH. R. M. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d 1 0 5 , 1 0 8 (T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). 13 ... Id . 4 I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t uals uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve due d e fe re n c e to th e fa c tfin d e r’s f i ndi ngs and nots uppl antt he f ac t f i nde r ’ s j udgm ent
w i t h ourow n. 12I f, i n l i g h t of th e en ti re rec o rd, the d i sp u te d e v id e n c e tha t a re a s o n a bl e f act f i ndercoul d not have cr edi t ed i n f avoroft he f i ndi ng i s so si gni f i ca ntt hata f ac t f i nde rco ul d notr ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m be l i efor c o n v i c ti o n i n the tr u th o f i ts fi n d i n g , th e n the ev i d e n c e i s fa c tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t. 13 S UF F I CI E NC Y OFT HEE VI DE NC ET O S UP P OR TT E R M I NAT I NG

JE SSI CA ’ S PARE NTA LRI GH TS The r ec or d s how s t he f ol l ow i ng evi den ce w aspr es ent ed on t he i ss ue of
w het herJe ss i ca ’ s r i ght s sh oul d bet er m i nat ed:

• A .C . w a s b o rn w i th co c a i n e i n h e r sy ste m . J e ss ic a a d m itted to D epa rt m entofFa m i l y a nd Pr ot ec t i ve Servi ce s ( D FPS) i nve st i gat or K r i st i na Bates t hat she had used cocai ne w hi l e pr egnan t , and she agr eed t o ha ve t he chi l d re n r em ove d. Ther ea ft er , Je ss i ca co m pl et ed i nt ens i ve dr ug- addi ct i on servi ces and had t he chi l dr en r et ur ned t o her . Sever al m ont hsaft er t hei rr et ur n, how eve r , D FPS ca se w or ke r , Cat hy Kurt i n, t w i ce r equest ed t hat Jessi ca and Joseph be dr ug t est ed but both f ai l ed t o be t est ed. Jessi ca l at er adm i t t ed t o usi ng cocai ne agai n and subm i t t ed t o a dr ug t est , t he r esul t s ofw hi ch show ed habi t ual , al m ostdai l y use r at hert han a si ngl e d ay’ s r el a p s e . D FPS t hen r em ove d t he chi l dr en a se con d t i m e a nd s etup a ne w s ervi cepl an. Al t hough Je ss i ca s ai d s he w o u l d d o a n y th i n g to g e t h e r c h i l d ren b a c k , th ree su b se q u e n t d rug tes ts cam e back posi t i ve f orcocai ne use and Jessi ca adm i t t ed t hats h e had conti n u ed dur i ng t he t i m e oft he new servi ce pl an t o use i l l egal dr ugs.5

S h e d id, how ever , com pl et e an i npati entdr ug r ehabi l i t at i on pr ogr am sh ort l y be f or e t r i albe gan .
• J. C . , Jr . ha d e m ot i ona l an d s pee ch di f f i cul t i es . He beg an th e rapy s e s s i o n sw it h K e lle yS p e ll, a lic e n s e d p r o f e s s io n a l c o u n s e lo r , w h ile in f ost erca re . I n t hei ri ni t i al sess i ons, he exhi bi t ed dest r uct i ve t ant r um s, com m uni cat i on di f f i cul t i es, and a nxi et y. D ur i ng hi s t i m e i n f ost ercar e, how ever , Sp el l observed i n hi m m uch i m pr ovem en t and i ncr eased com f ort . Psychol ogi stPaul C upp et tf i r stsaw J. C . , Jr . w hen t he boy w as t hr eeye ar s, t hr eem ont hsol d. Al t hough he not ed t hatJ. C . , Jr . ha d s om e di f f i cul t i es w i t h hi s speech and em ot i ons, C upp et tf oun d t hathe w as a b ri g h t bo yw i th an av e rag e I .Q . W h e n h e w a s rem o v e d fr o m h i s p a ren ts f or a second t i m e, J. C . , Jr . w as r et ur ned t o t he sam e fo s te r p a r ent s. U n d e r th e i r c a re , h e re s u m e d h i sth e ra p y w i th S p e l l . S h e n o te d th a t J .C ., Jr . app ea r ed t o hav e r egr es se d w hi l e l i vi ng w i t h hi s par ent s t o be dw ett i ng and s oi l i ng hi s pan t s, w hi ch sh e t es t i f i ed i ndi ca t ed f r us t r at i on, an ger , an d anx i et y. D r . Cuppettal so not ed t hatJ. C . , Jr . ha d r egr es se d, ap pea r i ng f e a r f u l a n d a n x io u sa n d d is p la y in g m u c h s e p a r a t io n a n x i e t yf r o m h is f ost erm ot her . H e t est i f i ed t hatr em ai ni ng w i t h t he f ost erpar ent s w as i m port antf orJ. C . , Jr . ’ s l ong- t er m de vel opm ent . He had co nce r nsab out t he chi l d goi ng ba ckt o a ppe l l ant s bec aus e o ft he neg l ec t t hat st em s f r om dr ug abu se.

• K u rti n v i s i te d th e h o m e a fte r th e c h i l d re n ’ s r e t u rn fo l l o w i n g J e s s i c a ’s i n i ti a l d ru g tre a tm e n t. K u rti n te s ti fi e d th a t th e s m a l l a p a rtm e n t w a s“ v e ry very m es sy . ” I n a ddi t i on t o t he f am i l y, i thous ed t w o c at s and a pr egn ant pi t - bul l
- l i ke dog . Th e chi l dr en’ s bedr oom w as “i n di sar r ay. ” A nd w hen Kurt i n r et ur ned t he nex t m ont h, t her e w asno i m pr ove m ent : f ood c r um bs lit t e r e d t h e b a s e o fa c o f f e e t a b le a n d t h e a n im a ls w e r e s t ill t h e r e . K u rt in to l d J e s s i c a th a t s h e n e e d e d t o p i c kth i n g su p a n d g e t th e p l a c e m o re or ga n i z e d . Mo n t h s a f t e r h e r i n i t i a l v i s i t , K u rt i n o b s e rv e d t h a tt he a p a rt m entw asw or set han be f or e: i ts m el l ed, di rt y di sh esw e re eve ryw her e, t he dog h ad gi ven bi rt h t o si x puppi es , ca t s had be en on t he s t o v e e a t in g o u to fa p o t , a n d t h e f a m ilyd id n o ts e e m t o b e “ m a k in g it f i nan ci al l y. ” A ppe l l ant s’ m edi ca i d ben ef i t s had l aps ed, J. C . Jr . w asnot g e tti n g th e th e rap y h e n e e d e d , a n d th e ch i l d ren ’s sh o ts w e re n o t cu rr e n t. The ho m e e nvi r onm ent ca us ed Kurt i n con ce r n f or t he chi l dr en’ s sa f et y. She r et ur ned t o t he apa rt m entonc e m or e t hatm ont h, an d, al t hough t hi ngs had “been pi cked up som e”— di shes w er e of ft he coun t erand t hr ee14 ... I n re U. P. , 1 0 5 S .W .3 d 2 2 2 , 2 3 4(T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ). 6 puppi esw er e g one — i ts t i l l di d not l ookl i ket he f am i l y ha d m ove d i n. She r e c om m end ed a h om em ak ers ervi cet o he l p w i t h t he cl ea ni ng, but appel l ant s f ai l ed t o part i ci pat e.

• P s y c h o lo g is tN ic h e lle W ig g in s e v a lu a t e d J e s s ic a a f e w d a y s b e f o r e t r ia l. T he r e s ul t s of he r e va l ua t i on di d no t s up po rt r e t ur ni ng t he c hi l dr e n to Jessi ca. She noted t hat Jessi ca w as physi cal l y and em ot i onal l y addi ct ed t o cocai ne, and t hat she conti nued usi ng i tdespi t e know i ng t he potent i al f orver y ser i ous consequ ences. W i ggi ns t est i f i ed t hatJessi ca needed i nt en s i v e t r e a t me n ta n d wa sn o ti n a n yp o s i t i o n t o p a r e n te f f e c t i v e l y. A l t hou gh Jessi ca had gon e t hr oug h i nt e n s iv e t r eat m entt he year bef or e— doi ng w el l eno ugh t o hav e t he chi l dr en r et ur ned aft erf ourt o f i ve m onths— she r el apsed, w hi ch, accor di ng t o W i ggi ns, pl aced t he chi l dr en i n a ve ry di f f i cul t and con f us i ng s i t uat i on w i t h a hi gh r i skofde vel opi ng e m o ti o n a l a n d b e h a v i o ra l i s s u e s . H a v i n g c a refu l l y c o n side red th e e v i d e n c e a n d a p p l y i n g t h e ap p rop ri a te l e g a l a n d fa c tu a l s u fficie n c ys ta n d a rd so f re v i e w , w e h o l d th a t, o n th e e n ti re r ec or d, t he t r i alco urtco ul d ha ve r ea so nab l y f or m ed a f i r m bel i eforco nvi ct i on t hatJ e s s i ca en gag ed i n c onduc tt haten dan ger ed t he chi l dr en’ s phys i ca l an d em ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng a nd t hatca us e d th e ch i l dr en t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsor su rr oundi ngst haten dan ger ed t hei rphy si ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng. Dr ug addi ct i on and i t s ef f ect on a par ent ’ s l i f e and abi l i t y t o par entm ay est abl i sh an e n d a n g e ri n g co u rse o f co n d u c t. 14A l t hou gh Jessi ca sought t r eat m entfo rher a d d i c ti o n , th e ev i d e n c e sh o w s t h a t he r ad d i c ti o n to c o c a i n e w a s re sistan t t o t r ea t m entan d ha d pe r si st ed des pi t e m or e t han a y ea rofs i gni f i ca nti nt erven t i on15 ... S e eI nreJ. D . B. , N o . 02- 06- 00451
- CV , 2007 W L2216 612, a t*3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth A u g . 2 , 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.)(m e m . o p .); I nreC. S. C. , No. 02- 06- 00254
- CV , 2006 W L3438 185, a t*7 (T e x . App.

— Fo rtW ort h Nov . 30, 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (m e m .o p .)

16 ... I n reR. R. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d 1 1 2 , 1 1 6 (T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). 17 ... T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 2 6 3 .3 0 7 (a ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). 7 and pr ogr a ms a i me d a ta d d r e s s i n g i t sc o n t r o l . T h e t r i a l c o u rtc o u l d ha ve r e a s o n a b lyin f e r r e d f r o m h e rp a s td r u g u s e t h a t s im ila r c o n d u c tw o u ld re c u rif th e c h i l d re n w e re re tu rn e d to h e r. 15W e h o ld , t h e r e f o r e , t h e e v id e n c e le g a lly and f act ual l y suf f i ci ent t o suppo rt t he t r i al court ’ s endan ger m ent f i ndi ngs und er s u b s e c ti o n s(D ) a n d (E ). I n addi t i on t o one of t he st at ut or y endan ger m entf i ndi ngs, t he evi dence
m us ts how t hatt er m i nat i on i s i n t he chi l d ’s be sti nt er es t . Ther e i s a s t r ong p res u m p ti o n tha t ke e p i n g a c h i l d w i th a p a ren t i s i n the ch i l d ’s b e st i n tere st. 16 Pr om ptand per m anent pl acem ent o ft he chi l d i n a saf e envi r onm enti s al so p res u m e d to b e i n the ch i l d ’s b e st i n tere st. 17 N onexcl usi ve f act or s t hatt he t r i erof f act i n a t er m i nat i on case m ay use i n det er m i ni ng t he besti nt er estoft he chi l d i ncl ude: ( A ) t he des i r esoft he chi l d; ( B) t he em ot i ona l and phy si ca lne edsoft he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e;18 ... Ho l le yv. A da ms , 5 4 4S .W .2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ). 19 ... InreC.H ., 8 9 S .W .3 d 1 7 , 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). 20 ... Id. 8 ( C ) t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l da nge rt o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( D ) t he par ent alab i l i t i esoft he i ndi vi dua l s se ek i ng c us t ody; (E) th e p rog ram s a v a i l a b l e to a ss is t t h e se i n d i v i d u a l s to pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( F) t he pl ansf ort he chi l d byt hes e i ndi vi dua l s or b y t he age ncys ee ki ng c us t ody; (G ) th e sta b i l i ty o f t h e h o m e o r pro p o se d p l a c e m e n t; (H ) th e ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t w h i c h m a yi n d i c a te th a t t h e e x i sti n g p a ren t- c h i l d rel a ti o n sh i p i s n o t a pr ope rone ; an d (I ) a n yex c u se for the ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t. 18 Th ese f acto rs a re not exhaust i ve; som e m ay not appl y t o som e cases; ot her f act or s not on t he l i stm ay al so be consi der ed w hen app r opr i at e. 19 Furt her m or e, u n d i sp u ted e v i d e n c e o f j u st o n e fac to r m a yb e su ffi c i e n t i n a p a rt i c u l a r ca se to su pporta f i ndi ng t hat t er m i nat i on i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d. 20 O n t h e ot herha nd, t he pr es enc e o fs ca ntev i d e n c e r el eva ntt o e ac h f ac t orw i l l not21 ... Id. 9

su pports uch a f i ndi ng. 21 I n t hi s ca se , a n um beroft hes e f ac t or s w ei gh i n f avo r o f t e rm i n a ti o n as b e i n g i n the ch i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. A . D e s ir e so ft h eC h ild G i ven t hei rag e s , i ti s di f f i cul tt o de t er m i ne w i t h a ny p r ec i si on t he chi l dr en’ s desi r es. A tt he t i m e of t r i al , A . C . w as one year ol d and J. C . , Jr . w as f our . But t her e i s evi den ce t hat t hey w er e doi ng w el l w i t h t he f o s te r fa m i l y. K u rti n te s ti fi e d th a t A .C . w a s d o i n g “ v e ryw e l l ,”a n d S p e l l te s ti fi e d th a t J .C ., Jr . ha d “ bui l ta r app ort ” w i t h t he f os t erpa r ent s and f el tco m f ort abl e s pea ki ng to th e m . In a d d i ti o n , b o th th e c o u rt-a p p o i n te d c h i l d a d v o c a te a n d th e c h i l d re n ’s ad l i t em r ecom m ended t er m i nat i ng app el l ant s’ par ent al r i ghts . B. The Chi l dr en’ s Pr es entan d Fu t ure E m ot i ona lan d Phy si ca lN ee ds Ther e w a s e v i den cet hatt he f os t erf am i l y c oul d be tt erpr ovi de f ort he c h i l d ren ’s p res e n t a n d f u tu re e m o ti o n a l an d p h y sica l n e e d s th a n ap p e l l a n ts cou l d. The evi den ce w as undi sp ut ed t hat Jes si ca w as em ot i o n a l l y a nd physi cal l y addi ct ed to c o c a ine. A . C . w as bor n w i t h cocai ne i n hersyst em because herm ot herused t he dr ug du r i ng he r p re g n a ncy, i ncl udi ng t he day bef or e A . C . w as bor n. C upp e tt te st i f i ed t hatchi l dr en w hose par ent s abuse d r u g s o f t e n s u f f e rf r o m n e g le c t . In a p p e lla n t s ’ c u s t o d y , t h e c h ild r e n ’s m e d ic a id10

benefi t s had l apsed, and t hei r s h o ts w e r e notcur r ent . C upp et tt est i f i ed t hat t hey w er e atr i sk ofdevel opi ng em ot i onal i ssues of t en seen w i t h negl ectt hat st em s f r om a par ent ’ s us e o fi l l ega l dr ugs . I n fos t erca r e, on t he ot herha nd, A . C . w as doi ng “ v er y w el l . ” She had m edi cal needs such as eari nf ect i ons, f e v e r , a n d a p o s s i b le v ir u s , a ll o fw h ic h t h e f o s t e rp a r e n t sh a d a p p r o p r ia t e ly att end ed t o. W i t h a ppe l l ant s, J. C . , Jr . di d notco ns i st ent l y r ec ei ve t he t her apy h e n e e d e d a n d h a d reg res se d a fter b e i n g retu rne d to th e i r c a r e . In co n tr a st,
w i th the fos ter p a ren ts, he w a s a b l e to res u m e th e rap yan d rec e i v e the sta b i l i ty he very m uch nee ded . H e h ad bec om e v ery a t t ac hed t o hi s f os t erpa r ent s and fe l t s a fe w i th th e m . C . Par ent alabi l it i es The ps ych ol ogi st w ho eva l uat ed Jes si ca t es t i f i ed t hats he w oul d notbe abl e to e ffect i vel y par entbecause ofherdr ug add i ct i on, w hi ch had pers i st ed des pi t e s i gni f i ca nti nt erven t i on. O n t he ot herha nd, t her e w asev i den cet hatt he fo ste r f a m i l y— a m i n i ste r an d sta y a t h o m e m o m — c o u l d p rov i d e th e se c u ri ty a n d s ta b i l i tyth a t th e c h i l d re n n e e d e d . D . S tab i l ity S pel l t est i fied t o t he i m port ance ofst abi l i t y f ort he chi l dr en as soon as pos si bl e. J. C . , Jr . , es pec i al l y, w asde sc r i bed asem ot i ona l l y f r a g i l e. The evi dence show ed t hathi s need f or st abi l i t y w as par am oun t . Th e r ecor d show ed22 ... See i d. a t28. 11 th a t ap p e l l a n ts, ad d i c ted to i l l e g a l d rug s a n d co n ti n u in g to u se the m u p to sh ort l y be f or e t r i al , co ul d notpr ovi de t hats t abi l i t y. S pel l t es t i f i ed t hatt he f ost er f am i l y w as pr ovi di ng st abi l i t y and t hat J. C . , Jr . ’ s at t achm ent to them
w as t he onl y consi st entt hi ng i n hi s l i f e. C upp et t t est i f i ed t hatf r equen tm oves f orchi l dr en p la y a dr am at i c r ol e i n t hei rdevel opm ent . H e bel i eved t hat re m a i n i n g w i th th e fo s te r p a re n ts w a si m p o rta n t fo r th e c h i l d re n ’sl o n g -te rm d e v e l o p m e n t, an d h e v o i c e d c o n c e rns ab o u t t h e m g o i n g b a c kto a p p e l l a n ts because oft he negl ectt hatst em s f r om dr ug abu se. A f t erca r ef ul l y c ons i der i ng t h e e v i d e ncei n l i ghtoft hes e f ac t or s and a p p l y i n g th e a p p ro p ri a te l e g a l a n d fa c tu a l s u fficie n c y s ta n d a rd so f re v i e w , w e hol d t hatt he t r i alco urtco ul d ha ve r ea so nab l y f or m ed a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on t h a tt e r m in a t io n w a sin t h e c h i l d r e n ’s b e s tin t e r e s ta n d t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is l ega l l y and f ac t ual l y su f f i ci ent t o s upportt hatf i ndi ng. 22 W e o v e rru l e J e s s i c a ’s i ssues. J OS E P H’ S F R I VOL OUS AP P E AL J o se p h ’s co u rt -ap p o i n ted ap p e l l a te c o u n se l h a s fi l e d a m o ti o n to
w i t hdr aw as counsel and a br i ef i n suppo rtoft hatm ot i on, st at i ng t hathe has re v ie w e d th e re c o rd a n d c a n fin d n o n o n -f riv o lo u sg ro u n d sfo r a p p e a l. In23 ... 3 8 6 U .S . 7 3 8 , 8 7 S . C t. 1 3 9 6 (1 9 6 7 ). 24 ... Sp eci f i cal l y, t he tr ia l courtf oun d t hatJoseph ( 1) know i ngl y pl aced orknow i ngl y al l ow ed t he chi l dr en t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs w hi ch endan ger ed t hei rphysi cal orem ot i onal w el l
- bei ng; and ( 2) engaged i n cond uct or know i ngl y pl aced t he chi l dr en w i t h per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uctw hi ch end ang er ed t hei rphy si ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng; a nd t hatt er m i nat i on of J o s e p h ’sp a re n ta l ri g h ts i si n th e c h i l d re n ’sb e s t i n te re s t. S ee Tex. Fa m . Code A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D )& (E ) &(2 ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ).

25 ... I n reK. M. , 98 S . W . 3d 774, 776– 77 ( Te x. App . — Fo rtW ort h 2003, n o p e t.).

26 ... S e eS taffo rd v. S tate , 8 1 3 S .W .2 d 5 0 3 , 5 1 1 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 1 ); Ma ys v. S tate , 9 0 4 S .W .2 d 9 2 0 , 9 2 3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 1 9 9 5 , n o p e t.).

27 ... S eePens on v. Oh io , 4 88 U. S. 75, 82–8 3, 109 S. Ct . 346, 351 (1 9 8 8 ). 12 ac cor dan cew i t h A nders v. Cal if or ni a, 23co uns elpr es ent s aspot ent i ali ss uesf or re v i e w w h e th e r th ee v i d e n c e w a sfa c t u a l l y a n d l e g a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt term i n a ti o n o f Jo se p h ’s p a r e n t a l ri g h ts 24and w het hert r i al counsel pr ovi ded c o n sti tu ti o n a l l y e ffec ti v e rep res e n tati o n . W e h a v e h e l d tha t A n derspr ocedu r es appl y i n par ent al t er m i nat i on cases. 25I n o u r d u ti e sa sa re v i e w i n g c o u rt, w e m ustcondu ctan i ndep enden teval uat i on of t he r ecor d to deci de w het her coun sel i s cor r ect i n det er m i ni ng t hatt he appeal i s f r i vol ous. 26O nl y t hen m ay w e gr antcounsel ’ s m ot i on t o w i t hdr aw . 27 Th e evi dence w e f oun d l egal l y and f act ual l y suf f i ci ent t o sust ai n t he t r i al c o u rt ’s e n d a n g e r m e n ta n d b e s tin t e r e s tf in d in g sa st o J e s s ic a a p p lie se q u a l ly13

to J o s e p h . H e w a s a d d i c te d to c o c a i n e a n d a d m i tte d to h a v i n g a l o n g h i s to ry ofdr ug us e i n New Yor k a nd i n Tex as . He had a p att er n ofr ef r ai ni ng f r om d r u g s f o rs h o rtp e r io d sw h e n h e p e r c e iv e d d ir e c o n s e q u e n c e s o n lyt o f a ll i nev i t abl y ba cki nt o us e. Fo rex am p l e , he r es i st ed us i ng dr ugss hort l y du r i ng t he f i r str em oval i n 2 00 6, but t hen adm i t t ed usi ng cocai ne t he f ol l ow i ng N ew Y ear ’ s Eve. A s w i t h Jessi ca, w hen Jo seph f i nal l y subm i t t ed t o a dr ug t estaft er t he new year , t he ext r em el y hi gh r esul t s i n di cat ed habi t ual , al m ostdai l y use. In a d d i ti o n to h i sd ru g u s e , o th e r e v i d e n c e s u p p o rtsth e tri a l c o u rt’s t er m i nat i on ofJos eph ’ s par ent alr i ght s. Seve r alm ont hsaft erA . C . w asbor n, J o s e p h wa sa r r e s t e d a n d c h a r g e d wi t h f o u rc o u n t s o ff e l o n yi d e n t i t yt h e ft . He
w as convi ct ed and sent enced t o t w o year s’ conf i nem enti n st at e j ai l pr obated f orf i ve year s. O n t he day set f or t r i al on t he t er m i nat i on of hi s par ent al r i ghts , he w asar r es t ed f orvi ol at i ng t he con di t i onsofhi s pr oba t i on. Fort hes e r ea so ns , w e f i nd no m er i ti n t he pot ent i ali ss ue w h e th e rt he e v i d e n c e i sl e g a l l ya n d fa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt te rm i n a ti n g J o s e p h ’s par ent al r i ghts . Joseph’ s appel l at e counsel al so pr esent s as a pot ent i al i ssue w het hert r i al cou ns el w asi nef f e c ti ve f orf ai l i ng t o obj ec tt o c ert ai n s ci ent i f i c e vi den cean d f orf ai l i ng t o pr es erve su f f i ci enc y c l ai m s f orr evi ew by notf i l i ng a m o t i on f or n e w tri a l .28 ... I n reM. S. , 1 1 5 S .W .3 d 5 3 4 , 5 4 4(T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). 29 ... Id. a t 5 4 9 ; Str

i ckl and v. W ashi ngton , 4 6 6 U .S . 6 6 8 , 6 8 7 , 1 0 4S . C t. 2 0 5 2 , 2 0 6 4(1 9 8 4 ).

30 ... Str i ckl and, 4 6 6 U .S . a t 6 8 7 , 1 0 4S . C t. a t 2 0 6 4 ; Sa l i n a sv. S tate , 1 6 3 S .W .3 d 7 3 4 , 7 4 0 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 5 ).

31 ... Thomps on v. S tate , 9 S .W .3 d 8 0 8 , 8 1 3 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ). 32 ... See Str

i ckl and, 466 U. S. a t688– 89, 104 S. Ct . a t2065 .

14 Th er e i s a r i ght t o ef f ect i ve assi st ance ofcounsel i n t er m i nat i on cases. 28 W e r evi ew i nef f ect i ve assi st ance cl ai m s undert he S tr i cklands ta nda r d. 29 T o es t abl i sh i nef f ec t i ve as si st anc e o fco uns el , ap pel l antm us ts how by a pr epo nde r anc e o f t he evi den ce t hat hi s cou ns el ’ s r epr es ent at i on f el l bel ow t he s t a n d a r d o fp r e v a ilin g p r o f e s s io n a l n o r m sa n d t h a tt h e r e isa re a s o n a b le pr oba bi l i t y t hat , but f or cou ns el ’ s def i ci enc y, t he r es ul toft he t r i alw oul d ha ve b e e n d i fferen t. 30 I n e val uat i ng t he ef f ec t i ven es s of cou ns el unde r t he f i r st pr ong, w e l ook t o t he t ot al i t y oft he r epr esent at i on and t he part i cul arci r cum st ances o feach case. 31 The i ss ue i s w het her cou ns el ’ s as si st anc e w asr ea so nab l e u nde ral l t he ci r cum st ances and pr evai l i ng pr of essi onal nor m s att he t i m e oft he al l eged e rro r. 32Revi ew ofc o u n s e l ’ s r epr es ent at i on i s hi ghl y de f er ent i al , an d t he33 ... Sal i nas , 1 6 3 S .W .3 d a t 7 4 0 ; Ma l le tt v. S tate , 6 5 S .W . 3d 59, 63 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 1 ).

34 ... S tri ckl a n d , 466 U. S. a t687, 104 S. Ct . a t2064 . 35 ... Id. a t694, 104 S. Ct . a t2068 . 36 ... Id. 37 ... Id. a t697, 104 S. Ct . a t2070 . 15 r e v ie w in g c o u rtin d u lg e sa s t r o n g p r e s u m p t io n t h a t c o u n s e l’s c o n d u c tf e ll w it h in a w i de r ang e o fr ea so nab l e r epr es ent at i on. 33 T h e se c o n d p ron g o f Str i ckl and re q u i re s a s h o w i n g th a t c o u n s e l ’se rro rs w e re s o se ri o u s th a t t h e yd e p ri v e d th e d e fen d a n t o f a fai r tr i a l , i .e., a tr i a l w i th a rel i a b l e res u l t. 34In o t h e rw o r d s , a p p e lla n tm u s ts h o w t h e r e isa re a s o n a b le pr oba bi l i t y t hat , but fo r c o u ns el ’ s unpr of es si ona l er r or s, t he r es ul toft he p roc e e d i n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n d i fferen t. 35Ar easonabl e pr obab i l i t y i s a pr obab i l i t y suf f i ci ent t o und er m i ne confi dence i n t he outcom e. 36T h e u l ti m a te f o c u s o fo u rin q u irym u s tb e o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l f a ir n e s s o ft h e p r o c e e d in g in
w hi ch t he r es ul ti s bei ng c hal l eng ed. 37 I n suppo rt of hi s potent i al i ssue t hat t r i al coun sel m ay hav e b e en i nef f ect i ve, appel l at e counsel not es t hatt r i al counse l f ai l ed t o pr eserve a su f f i c i enc y c l ai m by notpur su i ng a m ot i on f orne w t r i al . Tex asRul e o f A ppe l l at e Pr oce dur e 33. 1( d) p ro v i d e s t hata m ot i on f orne w t r i ali s not38 ... T e x . R . A p p . P . 3 3 .1 (d ). 39 ... See Str

i ckl and, 466 U. S. a t688– 89, 104 S. Ct . a t2065 . 40 ... S e eId., a t687, 104 S. Ct . a t2064 . 16 n e c e s s a ryt o p r e s e rv e a s u f f ic ie n c yc la im f r o m a b e n c h t r ia l. 38 Th e p o t ent i al i s s u e w h e th e r tri a l c o u n s e l w a si n e ffe c ti v e fo r n o t p re s e rv i n g a p p e l l a n t’s s u fficie n c yc l a i m sfa i l s , th e re fo re , u n d e r Str i ckl and’ s f i r stpr ong. 39 A ppel l at e counsel al so posi t s i n hi s br i eft hatt r i al counsel m ay have been i nef f ect i ve f orf ai l i ng t o obj ectt o D FPS c a s e w or kerK urt i n’ s t est i m ony that s c ie n t if ic t e s t sp e r f o r m e d o n J o s e p h s h o w e d t h a th e u s e d c o c a in e h a b it u a lly
r at her t han j ustonce. C oun sel t hen sur m i ses t hat“gi ven t hatbot h par ent s at var i ous st ages bef or e and af t ert he t est i ng adm i t t ed t o dr ug usage, and gi ven th a t b o th te s ti fi e d l a te r i n th e h e a ri n g th a t th e yw e re u s i n g c o c a i n e , th e fa i l u re t o obj ect , al t hou gh defi ci ent by t he Str i ckl and gui del i nes , i s ul t i m at el y c ur ed by p a r tya d m i s s i o n s .”W h i l e w e d o n o t d e c i d e w h e th e r c o u n s e l ’sa c ti o n sw e re d e f ic ie n t u n d e r t h e fi rst pro n g o f Str i ckl and o r t h a t t h e yw e re c u red b yp a rt y a d m i s s i o n s , w e a g re e w i th c o u n s e l th a t, v i e w e d i n i ts to ta l i ty , c o u n s e l ’sfa i l u re t o obj ectt o t hi s evi dence w oul d not have af f ect ed t he outcom e. 40Ther ef or e, w e o v e rru l e J o s e p h ’sp o te n ti a l i s s u e n u m b e r tw o .41 ... S e eBle dso e v. S tate , 1 7 8 S .W .3 d 8 2 4 , 8 2 7 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 5 ). 17 H avi ng car ef ul l y r evi ew ed t he r ecor d and t he appel l at e br i ef s, w e agr ee w i th J o se p h ’s ap p e l l a te c o u n se l tha t h i s a p p e a l i s fr i v o l o u s a n d w i th o u t m e ri t. W e f in d n o t h in g in t h e re c o r d t h a tm ig h ta r g u a b lys u p p o rtt h e a p p e a l. 41 CON CL US I ON H avi ng f ound t he evi den ce l ega l l y and f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entt o s upportt he tri a l c o u rt’so rd e r te rm i n a ti n g J e s s i c a ’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts a n d h a v i n g h e l d J o s e p h ’s app ea l f r i vol ous , w e gr ant Jos eph ’ s app el l at e c ouns el ’ s m ot i on t o w i t hdr aw an d a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’ste rm i n a ti o n o rd e rs .

P E R CU R I AM PA N EL: CA YC E, C. J. ; W A LKER and M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: J a nu a ry 22, 2009