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M ar ch 30, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 53 6 . IN THE INTEREST OF B. R. F., a ch i ld

.

P H I P P S , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In g ran t in g a m o t h er’ s o u t -o f-t i m e ap p li cat i on fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap peal o f t h e

t erm i n at i o n of h er p aren t al ri g h t s t o h er m i n o r ch il d

, B. R. F., ci t i ng In t h e In t er es t of

S

. M. B

., 1 we as k ed t h e p art i es t o ad d res s in t h ei r ap p el lat e b ri efs t h e q u es t i o n o f

wh et h er th i s co u rt h as j u ri s d i ct i o n t o g ran t th e o ut -o f-t i m e ap peal

. W e co n cl u d e t h at

,

u n d er t he ci rcu m s t an ces of t h i s cas e, t h i s co u rt h as ju ri s d ict i on to g ran t an o u t -o f-t i m e

ap p li cat io n fo r d i scret i o nary ap p eal fro m an o rd er t erm i n at in g p aren t al ri g h t s

. An d

fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h h erei n

, we affi rm t h e tri al co u rt ’ s t erm i n at i o n o f t h e m o t h er’ s

p aren t al ri g h t s

.

1 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 5 (7 3 5 SE2 d 1 2 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ).1

. In t h i s cas e, a co n s t i t u t i o n al v i ol at io n co n cern i n g t h e ap p eal o ccu rred wh en

t h e m ot h er’ s ri g h t t o fi l e an ap p l i cat io n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal wi t h t he as s i s t an ce

o f a co u rt -ap p o in ted at t o rn ey was fru s t rat ed b ecau s e o f t h e i neffect i v e as s i st an ce o r

d en ial o f co u n s el ; t herefo re, th i s co u rt h as ju ri s di ct i o n t o g r an t t h e o u t -o f-t i m e

ap p li cat io n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal fro m t he o rd er term i n at i n g t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al

ri gh t s.

Du ri n g t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g

, wh i ch b eg an on Decem b er 5

, 2 0 1 2 an d

co n cl u d ed o n Decem

b er 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e m o t h er w as rep res en ted b y co u n s el ap p o i n t ed

p u rs u an t t o a co nfl ict c o n t ract t h ro u g h t h e Gri ffi n Ci rcu i t Pu b l i c Defen d ers Offi ce.

Up o n t h e co ncl us i o n o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er’ s co u ns el s en t th e m o t h er a l et t er in

res p o n s e t o a cal l t he m o t h er h a d m a d e t o co u n sel ’ s o ffi ce. Co un s el i n fo rm ed t h e

m o th er t h at i t was h i s

u n d ers t an di n g fro m t he ci rcu i t Pu b l i c Defen d er, [n am e] t h at y o u are n o t

en t i t l ed t o i n d i g en t d efen s e fo r a d i s cret i o n ary ap p e a l o f a ci v i l cas e

(t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s ). Yo u can fi l e a p ri v at e ap p eal wi t h o u t

i n d i gen t d efen s e co un s el wi t h i n t h i rt y d ay s fro m t h e en t ry o f fi nal

j u d g m en t

. Th e fi n al o rd er s h o u l d b e en t ered wi t h i n t h e n ex t we e k

. I t

s h o u l d b e n o t ed as w el l t h at m y co n t ract wi t h t h e Pu b l i c D efen ders

Offi ce d o es no t i n cl u d e ap p el l an t [s i c] wo rk an d an y ap p eal o r fu rt h er

act i o n o n t h i s cas e wo u l d req u i re ap p o i n t [s i c] o f an o t h er at t o rn ey

.

2Co u n s el fu rt h er i n fo rm ed t h e m o t h er t h at h e was cl o s i n g hi s fi l e o f t h e cas e, an d t h at

i f s h e h ad an y fu rt h er q u es t i o n s

, s h e s h ou l d d i rect t hem t o th e co u n t y p ub l i c d efen d ers

o ffi ce. On J an u ary 1 4

, 2 01 3

, t h e t ri al co u rt en tered an o rd er t erm in at i n g t h e m o t h er’ s

p aren t al ri g h t s

.

Th e m o t h er, act i ng p ro s e, t i m el y fi l ed a d irect ap p eal fro m t h e ju v en i l e co urt ’ s

o rd er; b u t t he ju v en i l e co u rt d i s m i s s ed t h e no t i ce o f ap p eal d u e t o t he m o t h er’ s fai l u re

t o fo ll o w t h e d is cret i on ary ap p eal s p ro ced u re. 2 O n Sep t em b er 16

, 20 1 3, t h e m o t h er,

wi t h t h e as s i st an ce o f n ew co u n s el

, fi l ed an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary

ap p eal

.

“ It i s t h e d u t y o f t hi s co u rt t o rai se t h e q u es t i o n o f i ts ju ri sd i ct i o n i n al l cas es

i n w h ich t h ere m ay b e an y do u b t as t o th e ex i s ten ce o f s u ch ju ri s di ct io n .” 3 Pu rs u an t

t o OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (d ), an ap p l i cat io n fo r a d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal m u s t b e fi l ed wi t h in

3 0 d ay s o f t h e en t ry of t h e o rd er b ei n g ap p eal ed

. 4 A n d an in d i g en t p aren t h as a

2 See OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (a) (1 2 ), (d ).

3 R o w l a n d v. S t a t e

, 26 4 Ga. 8 7 2 (1 ) (4 5 2 SE2 d 7 5 6) (1 9 9 5 ) (ci t at i o n a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

4 OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (d ).

3s t at u to ry ri g h t to t h e ap po i n t m en t o f co u n s el t o ap p eal an o rd er t erm i n at i n g h i s o r h er

p aren t al ri g h t s

. 5

In In t he In t er es t o

f S

. M

. B.

, 6 th i s co u rt hel d t h at a t r ia l co u r t h ad n o au t h o ri t y

t o g ran t an o ut -o f-t i m e d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal ap p l i cat i o n f r o m a term i n at i on o f t h e

5 See fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 8 (2 0 1 2 ), wh ich was i n effect at t h e t i m e o f t h e

t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g (“ (a) In an y p ro ceed i n g fo r t erm i n at i n g p aren t al ri g ht s o r an y

reh eari ng o r ap p eal t hereo n

, t he co urt s hal l ap p o i n t an at t o rn ey to rep res en t t h e ch i ld

as t h e ch i l d ’ s co u ns el an d m ay ap p o i n t a s ep arat e g u ard i an ad l i t em o r a g u ard i an ad

l i tem wh o m ay b e t h e s am e pers o n as th e ch i ld ’ s co u ns el

. (b ) If t h e p aren t o r p aren t s

o f t h e ch i l d d es i re t o b e rep res en t ed b y co u n s el b u t a r e i n d i g e n t

, t h e co u rt s h al l

ap p oi n t an at t o rn ey fo r s uch p aren t o r p aren t s

. . . .”). See al s o Ni x v. Dep t. o

f Hu ma n

Res o u r ces

, 2 3 6 G a. 7 9 4

, 7 9 6 (2 2 5 SE2 d 3 0 6 ) (1 9 76 ) (“ It i s

. . . q u i t e ev i d en t t h at t h e

en t i re l eg i s l at iv e s ch em e w ri t t en i n t o t h e p ert i nen t p ro v is i on s o f th e J u v en i l e Co d e

was i n ten d ed t o p ro v i d e t o an i n d i g en t p aren t effect i ve rep res en t at i o n at al l s t ag es o f

an y p ro ceed i n g i nv ol v i n g t he t erm i n at i on o f t h at p aren t ’ s ri gh t to h i s o r h er ch i l d ”

i n cl u d i n g fo r ap p eal ); Del l v. Del l

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 7

, 3 0 2 (2 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 7 0 3) (2 0 1 3 )

(“ An in d i g en t p aren t has a s t at u t o ry ri g h t t o e f f e ct i v e l eg al rep res en tat i o n in

t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i n gs

. M o reo v er, an i n d i g en t p aren t wh o s e p aren t al ri g h t s h av e

b een term i n at ed i s en t i t l ed t o a p au p ered co p y o f t he t ran scri p t fo r u s e i n ap p eal i n g

t h e d eci s i o n o f t he t ri al co u rt .”) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u a t i o n o m i t t ed ); In t h e In t er es t

o f B. C. P.

, 2 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 1

, 11 6 (3 ) (4 9 3 SE2 d 2 5 8) (1 9 9 7 ) (an in d i g en t m o t h er i s

en t i t l ed t o co u rt -ap p o in t ed co u n s el t o ap p eal a d et erm i n at i o n o f d ep ri v at i o n ). An d s ee

fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1

- 6 ( b ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (a “ p art y i s en t i t l ed t o rep res en t at i o n b y l eg al

co u ns el at al l s t ag es o f an y p ro ceed i n g s al leg i n g

. . . d ep ri v at io n

, an d i f, as an i n d i g en t

p e r s o n

, a p a r t y i s u n ab l e t o em p l o y co u n sel

, h e or s h e i s en t it l ed t o h av e th e co u r t

p ro v id e co u ns el fo r h i m

o r h er.”).

6 Su p ra.

4ap p li cant’ s pa r e n ta l r ights. 7 Ci t i n g Ga b l e v. S t a t e

, 8 t h e co u rt reco gn i zed

, h o w ev er, t h at

“ an ap pel l at e co u rt m ay

, at i t s d i s cret i o n

, p erm i t an o ut -o f-t i m e di s cret io n ary ap p eal

wh ere a co n s t i t ut io n al ri g h t i s a t s t ak e.” 9 In d eed

, i n Ga bl e

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a h el d th at “ Geo rg i a Co u rt s m ay ex cu s e co m p l i an ce wi t h a st at u t o ry

req u i rem en t fo r ap pe a l o n l y wh ere n eces s ary to av o i d o r rem ed y a co n s t i t u t i o n al

v i o l at i o n co n cern in g t he ap p eal .” 1 0

In In t h e In t e r e s t o

f S

. M. B.

, 1 1 t h i s co u rt reject ed t h e n o t i o n o f co rrel at i n g a

p aren t ’ s ri g h t t o an o u t -o f-t im e ap peal o n i n effect iv en es s gro u n d s t o t h at o f a cri m i n al

d efen d an t

. 1 2 Th e co u rt reco gn i zed , as s t at ed b y t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt , t h at

[ o] u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal s are d es i g n ed t o ad d res s t he co n s t i t u t i ona l c onc e r ns

t h at ari s e wh en a c r i m i n a l d efen d an t i s d en i ed h i s fi rs t ap p eal o f ri g h t

b ecau s e t h e co u n sel to wh i ch h e was co n s t i t u ti o n a l l y en t i t l ed t o as si s t

h i m i n t h a t a p peal was p ro fes s i o n al l y d efi ci en t in n o t ad v i s i n g h im t o

fi le a t i m el y ap p eal an d t h at d efi ci en cy cau s ed p reju d i ce.

. . . H o wev er,

7 In t h e In t er es t

o f S . M. B ., s u p ra at 1 2 8

.

8 2 9 0 Ga. 8 1 (7 2 0 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

9 In t h e In t er es t

o f S . M. B ., s u p ra at 1 2 6 -1 2 7

.

1 0 Ga b le , s up ra at 8 5 (2 ) (b ).

1 1 Su p ra.

1 2 In t he In t er es t

o f S . M. B. , s u p ra at 1 2 7

.

5f

o r an o u t -o f-t im e ap p eal t o b e av ai l ab l e o n th e gro u n d s o f i n ef f e c t i v e

as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, th e d efen d an t m u st n eces s ari l y h av e h ad t h e ri g h t

t o fi l e a d i r ect

a pp ea l

. 1 3

Th e co urt co n cl u d ed t h at “ [t ] he [p aren t ] d i d n o t h av e t h e ri g h t t o fi l e a d i rect ap p eal

i n t h i s cas e, an d s o n o o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal i s av ai l ab le o n i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

g ro u nd s .” 1 4 In co n t ex t

, h o wev er, i t i s ap p aren t t h at b y “ d i rect ap peal ,” t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg i a m ean t s im p l y a fi rs t a p p eal

, i

. e., an ap p eal n ot t ak en by

d i s cret i o n ary o r m an d at o ry rev i ew “ b ey o n d t h e s t ag e in th e ap p el lat e p ro ces s at wh i ch

t h e cl ai m s h av e o n ce b een p res en ted b y a l awy er an d p as s ed u p o n by an ap p el l at e

co u rt .” 1 5

1 3 I d

. ( q u ot i n g S t ep h en s v. S t at e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 8 3 7 (2 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 2 6 6 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(em p h as i s o m it t ed ; em

ph as i s s u p p l i ed ).

1 4 In t he In t er es t

o f S . M. B. , s u p ra.

1 5 Do u g l a s v. Ca l i

f o r n i a

, 3 7 2 U. S. 3 5 3

, 3 56 (8 3 SCt 8 1 4

, 9 LE2 d 8 1 1 ) (1 9 6 3 );

s ee E vi tt s v. Lu cey

, 4 69 U. S. 3 87

, 4 0 2 (III) (B) (1 0 5 SCt 8 3 0

, 8 3 L E2 d 8 2 1 ) (1 9 8 5 ),

ci t i n g Ro s s v. Mo

f f it t , 4 1 7 U. S. 6 0 0 , 6 0 2-6 0 5 , 6 09 -6 1 2 (I), (III), (IV) (9 4 SC 2 4 3 7,

4 1 LE2 d 3 4 1 ) (1 97 4 ) (h o l d i ng t h at

, fo l l o wi ng a d i rect ap p eal o f ri g h t

, a cri m i n al

d efen d an t has n o co n s t i t u t i on al ri g ht t o co un s el t o p u rs u e fu rt h er d is cret i o n ary s t at e

ap p eal s an d ap p li cat i o ns fo r rev i ew b y t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ).

6In Ga b l e

, 1 6 t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h el d th at “ [t ] h ere i s n o co n s t i t u t i o n al

ri gh t to co u n sel

, m

u ch l es s t h e effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n sel , i n fi l i n g o r l i t i g at i n g

a p o s t -co n v i ct i o n ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al or a d i s cret i o n ary ap p l i cat i o n to

a p p eal t h e ru l i n g o n s u ch a m o ti o n .” 1 7 In Ga b l e t h e rem ed y o f an o u t -o f-t i m e

ap p li cat io n was n ot av ai l ab l e b ecau s e n o v i ol at i o n o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n s t i t u t i o n al

ri gh t s h ad o ccu rred wh en co u n s el ren d ered i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce by fai l in g t o fi le a

t i m el y ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s c r e t i o n ary ap p eal ; as i n Ro s s v. Mo f f i t t

, 1 8 t h e d efen d an t ’ s

co n v i ct i o n s i n Ga b l e had b een p rev i o u s l y affi rm ed o n di rect ap p eal

, an d t h e

d efen d an t h ad t h e as s i s t an ce o f co un s el i n pu rs u in g t h e p ri o r ap p eal

. 1 9 Th e ap p l i cat i o n

fo r d i s cret i o n ary rev i ew in t h i s cas e i s n o t l i k e t h e a p p l i cat i o n s i n Ro s s o r Ga b l e

,

wh i ch ap p l i cat i o n s h ad b een t ak en fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f f ur t h er a p pel l at e rev i ew,

fo l l o w i n g fi rs t d irect ap peal s as o f ri g h t.

1 6 Su p ra.

1 7 Ga b le , s up ra at 8 6 (2 ) (c) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

1 8 Su p ra.

1 9 Ga b le , s up ra at 8 2 (1 ).

7In D o u g l a s v. Ca l i f o r n i a

, 2 0 t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at t h e

Fo u rt een t h Am en d m en t g u aran t ees a cri m i n al defen d an t t h e ri g h t t o co u n s el o n h i s

“ f i r s t a pp ea l

, g ran ted as a m at t er o f ri g h t

, ” 2 1 an d in Evi t t s v. Lu cey

, 2 2 t h e Un i ted St at es

Su p r e m e Co urt h el d t h at t h at ri g ht t o co u n s el i n cl u d ed t h e ri g h t t o th e effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

. 2 3 Th e rat i o n al e was t h at al t h o u g h t h e

Co n st i tu t i o n d o es no t req u ire St at es to g ran t ap p eal s as o f r i g h t t o

cri m i n al d efen dan t s s eek i n g t o rev i ew al l eg ed t ri al co u rt erro rs [,]

. . . i f

a St at e h as creat ed ap pel l at e co u rt s as “ an i n t eg ral part o f th e

. . . s y st em

fo r fi nal l y ad

ju d i cat i n g t h e g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce o f a d efen d an t,” th e

p ro ced u res us ed i n deci di n g ap p eal s m us t co m p o rt wi t h t he d em an d s o f

t h e Du e Pro ces s an d Eq ual Pro t ect i o n Cl au s es o f t he Co n s t i t u t i o n

. 2 4

In Do u g l a s

, 2 5 t h e U n it ed St at es Su p rem e Co u r t s t a t ed t h at “ wh ere t h e m eri t s o f t h e

o n e an d o n ly a

p pea l an i n d i g en t h as as o f ri g h t are d e c i ded wi th ou t ben efi t o f

c o u n s el

, we t h i nk an u n co n s t i t u t i o n al l i n e h as b een d rawn b et ween ri ch an d p o o r

, ”

2 0 Su p ra.

2 1 Do u gl a s , s u p ra at 3 5 6 (em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

2 2 Su p ra.

2 3 Evi t t s , s u p ra at 3 92 , 4 0 4 (II), (III) (C).

2 4 Id . at 39 3 (II) (A) (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ).

2 5 Su p ra.

8an d

, as t o t he i n d i g en t

, “ t h e ri g h t t o ap p eal d o es no t co m p o rt w i t h fai r p ro ced u re.” 2 6

“ ‘ Du e Pro ces s ’ em

p h as i zes fai rn es s b et ween th e St at e an d t h e i n d i v i du al d eal i n g wi th

t h e St at e[.] ” 2 7 “ [T] h e p h ras e ex p res s es t h e req u i rem en t o f ‘ fu n d am en t al fai rn es s [.] ’ ” 2 8

In t h e co n t ex t o f term i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g ht s cas es

, t h e di s cret io n ary ap p eal

p ro ces s i s t h e o n e an d o n l y fi rs t ap p eal as o f ri g h t

. Fi rs t

, al t h o u g h t h e Un i t ed St at es

Co n s t i t u t i o n d o es n o t req u i re s t at es t o ap p o i nt co u n s el f o r i n d i g en t p aren t s in

t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g s, 2 9 as p rev i o u sl y s et fo rt h

, i n G e o rg i a t h e ri g h t t o co u rt

ap p oi n t e d c o u n s el fo r an in di g en t paren t i n t erm i n at i on p ro ceed i n g s i n cl u d es t h e

ap p el l at e p ro ces s

. Seco n d, i n In t h e In t er es t o f A

. C

. , 3 0 th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

s ai d t hat t h e s t at e h as a “ l eg i t i m at e i n teres t i n no t p erm i t ti n g ch i l dren d et erm i n ed to

b e d ep ri v ed to l an g u i s h i n t em p o ra ry care, b u t i n s t ead

, t o l eav e th i s si t uat i o n fo r

p erm an en t s t ab l e h o m es as ex p ed i t i o u s l y as p os s i b l e,” 3 1 an d t h at t h e d i s cret i o n ary

2 6 Do u gl a s , s u p ra at 3 5 7

.

2 7 Evi t t s , s u p ra at 4 05 (III) (C) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

2 8 La s si t er v. Dep t

. o

f S oci a l S vcs

. o f Du r h a m Co u n t

y

, 4 5 2 U. S. 1 8

, 2 4 (II) (1 0 1

SCt 2 15 3 , 6 8 LE2 d 6 4 0) (1 98 1 ).

2 9 Id . at 31 (II) (C).

3 0 2 8 5 Ga. 8 2 9 (6 8 6 SE2 d 6 35 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

3 1 Id . at 83 4 (2 ) (ci tat io n o m i t t ed ).

9ap p eal p ro ces s p ro v i d ed i n OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (a) (1 2 ) “ h el ps acco m p li s h t h i s g o al b y

o fferi n g effect i v e ap p e l l a t e rev i ew i n an ex p ed i t ed m an ner, y et p erm i tt i ng a fu l l

ap p eal o f t he t erm i nat i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s i f t h at i s s h o wn t o b e warran t ed .” 3 2

Th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt s t at ed :

In La s si t er

, i t was no t d is p u t ed t h at s tat e in t erv en t i o n t o t erm i n at e th e

rel at io ns h ip b et ween a p aren t an d t h e c h i l d m u s t b e acco m

p l i s h ed b y

p ro ced u res m eet i ng t he req u i s i t es o f t h e Du e Pro ces s Cl au s e. T he

ab s en ce o f d i s p u te re f

l ect ed t h is Co u rt ’ s h is t ori cal reco g n it i on t hat

freed o m o f p ers o nal ch o i ce i n m at t ers o f fam i l y l i fe i s a fu n d am en t al

l i bert y i n teres t p ro t ect ed b y

t h e Fo u rt een th Am en d m en t

. 3 3

Th e d is s en t i ng o p i n io n m is s es t h e m ark wh en i t fo cu s es on wh et h er t h e ap p eal ri g h t s

i n t h i s cas e were g ran t ed b y s t at u t e or b y ei t h er t h e s t at e o r fed eral co ns t i t u t i o n

. As

J u s t i ce Harl an rem ark ed i n Do u g l a s ab o u t t h e d u e p ro ces s is s u e: “ Th e real q u es t i o n

i n t h i s cas e, I s u b m it

, an d t he o nl y o ne t h at p erm i ts of s at is fact o ry an al y s i s

, i s wh et h er

o r n o t t h e s t at e ru l e, as ap p l i ed i n t h i s cas e, i s co n s i s t en t wi t h th e req u i rem en t s o f fai r

p ro ced ure g u aran t eed b y t h e D u e P ro ces s Cl au s e.” 3 4 Here, t he s tat e ru l e was n ot

3 2 Id

.

3 3 S a n t o s ky v. Kr a mer

, 4 5 5 U

. S. 7 45

, 7 53 -7 5 4 (II) (1 0 2 SCt 1 3 8 8

, 71 LE2 d

5 9 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ).

3 4 Ro s s , s u p ra at 6 0 9 -6 1 0 (III).

10ap p li ed co n s i s t e n t wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f fai r p ro ced ure gu aran teed b y t h e Du e

Pro ces s Cl au s e.

It i s ev i d en t t h at t h e Geo rg i a l eg is lat u r e i n co rp o rat ed th e d i s cret i o n ary

ap p li cat io n ap p eal p ro ced u re as an in t eg ral p art of t h e s y s t em fo r fi nal l y ad ju d i cat i n g

t erm i n at i o n o f p aren tal ri g h t s cas es

, an d t h i s s y s t em

, wh i ch en t i t l es i nd i g en t p aren t s

t o co u rt -ap po i n t ed co u ns el fo r ap p eal s an d p ro v i d es ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t erm i n at i o n

o rd ers an d a p o ss i b i l i ty fo r a fu l l ap p eal

, m u s t b e ap p l ied i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e

req u i rem en t s o f fai r pro ced u re g u aran t eed b y t he D u e P ro ces s Cl au s e o f t h e

C on s t i t u ti o n

. 3 5 Bu t i n t hi s cas e, t h e s y s tem d i d n o t co m p o rt wi t h t he Du e Pr o c e s s

Cl au se. In t h i s cas e, an i n di gen t p ers on wh o d es ired ap p el l at e rev i ew of th e d eci s i o n

t erm i n at i n g h er p aren t al ri g h t s was fo rced (d u e t o t h e i n effect iv e a s s i s t an ce o f h er

t ri al co u n s el ) t o pu rs u e h er o n e an d o n l y fi rs t ri g h t o f ap pel l at e rev i ew (an d a p o s s i b l e

3 5 See Evi tt

s

, s up ra at 4 0 0 -4 01 (III) (A) (“ Th e ri g h t t o ap peal wo u l d b e u n i q u e

am on g s t at e act i o ns i f it co u l d b e wi t h d rawn w i th o u t co n s i d erat io n o f ap p l i cab l e d u e

p ro ces s no rm s

. Fo r in s tan ce, al t h o u g h a St at e m ay ch o o s e wh et h er i t wi l l i n s t i t u t e an y

g i v en wel fare p ro gram

, it m u s t o p erat e wh at ev er p ro g ram s i t d o es es t ab li s h s u b ject

t o t h e p ro t ect i o ns o f th e Du e Pro ces s Cl au s e. Si m il arl y

, a St at e h as g reat d i s cret i o n

i n s et t in g p o l i ci es g o v ern i n g p aro l e d eci s i o ns

, b u t i t m u s t n on et h el es s m ak e t h o s e

d eci s i o n s i n acco rd wi t h t he Du e Pro ces s Cl au s e. In s h ort

, wh en a St at e o p ts t o act in

a fi el d wh ere it s act io n h as s ig n i fi can t d i s cret io n ary el em en t s

, i t m u s t n o n et h el es s a ct

i n acco rd wi t h t h e d i ct at es o f t he Co n s t i t u t i o n -- an d

, i n p art i cu l ar, i n acco rd wi t h t h e

Du e Pro ces s Cl au s e.”) (ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s s up p l i ed ); Do u g l a s , s up ra.

11fu l l ap p eal ) wi t h o u t an at t o rn e y wh en s t at e l aw en t i t l ed h er t o b e ap p o i n t ed an

at t o rn ey fo r ap peal

. Th e p aren t

, act i n g p ro s e, fi led t h e wro n g d o cu m en t i n t ak i n g h er

ap p eal ap p li cat i o n t o t h i s co u rt a f t e r h er co urt -ap p o i n t ed t ri al at t o rn ey erro n eo u s l y

n o t i fi ed her t h at sh e h ad n o ri g h t t o co u rt -ap p o i nt ed c o u n s el fo r ap p eal

. 3 6 As t h e

rem ed y fo r t h i s d ue p ro ces s v i o l at i o n

, we ack n o wl ed g e t h at we h av e ju ri s d i ct i o n o f

t h e d i s cret i on ary ap p eal an d

, as d et erm i n ed p rev io u s ly i n g ran t i n g t h e ap p li cat i o n

, we

p ro ceed to rev i ew t he ap p eal o n t h e m eri t s

. 3 7

2 . W e affi rm

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s t erm i n at io n o f t h e m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s

.

In rev i ewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev i d e n c e s u pp o rt in g a

t erm i n at io n o r d e r

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m os t fav o rab l e t o

DFCS an d det erm i n e wh et h er

. . . an y rat i o n al t r i e r o f fact co u ld h av e

fo u n d b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci ng ev id en ce t h at t h e n at ural p aren t ’ s ri g h t s

h a ve been l o s t

. W e d o n o t wei gh t he ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e t h e

cred ib i l i t y of t h e wi t n es s es b u t d efer t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s fact fi n d i n g an d

3 6 See g en eral l y Ro wl an d

, s u p ra at 8 7 3 ( 1 ) (“ A n at t o rn ey wh o t h ro u g h

n eg li g e n c e

, i g n oran ce, o r m i s i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e l aw

. . . fai l s t o perfo rm ro u t i n e

d u t i es res u l t in g i n a d is m i s s al o f h i s cl i en t’ s ap p eal

, t h e r e b y d en y i n g su ch cl i en t a

ri gh t o f rev i ew aft er co n v i c t i o n can n o t b e s ai d t o b e ren d eri n g effect i v e as s i s t an ce.

Th e res u lt i s t h e s am e as n o as s i s t an ce at al l .”) (ci tat i on o m i t ted ).

3 7 See In th e In t er es t o

f A. C

., s up ra; Ro wl a n d

, s u p ra at 8 75 (2 ) (“ Th e

o u t -o f-t i m e ap peal i s g ran t ed wh ere t h e d efi ci en cy i n v o l v es n o t t h e t ri al b u t t h e d en i al

o f t h e ri g h t o f ap p eal

. . . . [A] n o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal i s t h e rem ed y fo r a fru s t rat ed ri g ht

o f ap p eal [.] ”).

12affi rm u n l es s t he ev i d en ce fai l s to sat i s fy t h e a p p el l at e s t an d ard o f

rev i ew. 3 8

B. R. F. w as b o rn o n J u n e 1 6, 2 0 1 1

. At t h e t i m e, h er m o t her was 17 y ears o ld

(b o rn No v em

b er 2 3, 1 9 9 3 ), an d s t i l l l i v i n g wi t h h er o wn fat h er (t h e “ g ran d fat h er”).

Th e Dep art m en t o f Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren ’ s Serv i ces (DFCS) b ecam e co n cern ed t h at

t h e ch i l d ’ s n eed s were n ot b ei n g m et i n t h e h o m e, an d DFCS at t em p t ed to wo rk t h e

cas e as a “ fam i l y p res erv at i o n on g o in g cas e wi t h o u t co u rt i n t erv en ti o n

. ” Bu t o n J u l y

1 9

, 2 0 11

, t h e co u rt en t ered an o rd er fo r s h el t er care, s t at in g t h erei n t hat a co m p l ai nt

h ad b een m ad e t o t h e co u rt co n cern i n g t h e ch i l d

, an d t h at DFCS h ad m ad e reas o n ab l e

effo rt s t o p rev en t o r el im i nat e t h e n eed fo r rem ov i n g t he ch il d fro m t h e h o m e an d to

m ak e i t p o ss i b l e fo r t h e ch i l d t o rem ai n s afel y in t h e h o m e b y p ro vi d i n g p a r e n t i n g

s e r v i c e s i n t h e ho m e to w o rk wi t h t he m o t h er an d ch i l d fo r two week s

, by

i m p l e m e n t i n g t wo s afet y p l an s fo r s u p erv i si o n

, an d by h o ld i n g fam i ly co n feren ces

an d p ro v i d i n g fam i l y p res erv at i o n s erv ices

. Th e o rd er co n t i n u ed

, h o wev er, t h at t h e

m o th e r h ad b een u n ab l e to “ d em o n st rat e ap p ro pri at e p aren t in g ab i l i t i es ,” t h at t h e

g ran d fat h er h ad reco m

m en ded t h at t h e m ot h er’ s 1 8-y ear-o l d ex -b o y fri en d su p erv i s e

3 8 In t h e In ter es t o

f D. P. E

., 2 8 2 G a. A p p

. 5 2 9

, 5 3 0 ( 6 3 9 SE2 d 5 3 5) (2 0 0 6 )

(ci t at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t ted ).

13t h e m o t h er an d ch i l d du ri n g t h e d ay

, an d t h at t h ere was “ n o ap p ro p ri at e s u p erv i s i o n

o f t he m o t h er an d ch i l d i n t h e h o m e.” Th e co urt p l aced t h e ch i l d i n th e cu s to d y o f t h e

Pi k e Co u n t y

DFCS, p en d i n g a 7 2 -h o u r h eari n g

.

On J u ly 2 2

, 2 0 1 1

, t he co u rt en t ered a 7 2 -h o u r heari n g o rd er. Th e co u rt m ad e

t h e fo l lo wi n g fi nd i n g s i n i t s o rd er:

Bas ed u p on th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

, . . . th e Co u rt fi nd s t h at t h ere i s

p ro b ab l e cau s e t o bel i ev e t h e

. . . ch i ld i s d ep ri ved p u rs u an t t o OCGA §

1 5 -1 1 -2 (8 )(A): th e M o t h er, a m i n o r l ack s ap p ro p ri at e p aren t i n g s k il l s

an d m ay h av e s o m e co g n i t i v e i s s u es wh ich co u ld p o s s i b l y b e h i n d eri n g

h er ab i l i t y t o g ras p an d d em o n s t rat e p aren t i n g s k i ll s b ei n g tau g h t b y [t he

p aren t i n g s erv i ces co m

p an y ] ; t h e m at ern al g ran dfat h er h as b een an

i m p ed i m en t t o DFCS at t em p t i n g t o p l ace ai d

, t rai n i n g

, res o u rces an d

s erv ices i n t h e h o m e t o as s i s t t h e M o t h er an d Ch il d

.

No t wi t h s t an d i n g

, t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at co n t i n u at i o n i n t h e h om e wo u l d n ot

b e co nt rary to t h e w e l f

are of th e ch i l d

, an d t h at “ ri s k ” co u l d b e m an ag ed wi t h t h e

ch i l d i n t h e h o m e pro vi d ed th at t h e p art i es s t ri ct l y co m p l ied wi th cert ai n co n d i t i o n s

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t he m o t h er an d t he g ran d fat h er w ere req ui red t o c o m p l y wi t h a p ri o r

s afet y p l an

, wh i ch p l an req u i red t h at t h e ch i l d res i de in th e h o m e o f t h e gran d fat h er,

t h at t h e m ot h er b e s up erv i s ed at al l t i m es wi t h t h e ch i l d

, a n d t h a t t h e g ran d fat h er

en s u re t hat t h e m o t h er h ad a s u i t ab l e caret ak er fo r t h e m ot h er an d ch i l d at al l t i m es

.

14Th e co u rt al s o o rd ered t he fo ll o wi n g i n t h e J u l y 2 2

, 2 0 11 o rd er: t h e m o t h er an d ch i ld

wo u l d be s u p erv is ed at al l t i m es ; t h e m o t h er wo u l d s u b m it t o a p sy ch o l o g i cal

e v a l u at i o n / p aren t al fi tn es s as s es s m en t ; th e m o th er an d gran d fat h er wo u l d p ro v i d e

DFCS wi t h a l i st o f at l eas t t h ree i n d i v i d u al s o v er t h e ag e o f 21 wh o wo u l d b e

av ai l ab l e t o m eet wi t h an d co op erat e wi t h D FCS a n d wh o wo u l d b e av ai l ab l e to

s u p erv i s e t h e m ot h er a n d c h i l d wh en t h e gran d fat h er was at wo rk ; t h e g ran d fat h er

co u ld n o t s u p er v is e t h e m o t h er an d ch i l d ; th e m ot h er wo u l d at t en d al l s ch ed u l ed

p aren t i n g s erv i ces ap p oi n t m en t s

, co n feren ces wi t h D FCS, an d s erv i ces pro v i d ed by

DFCS; an d t h e g ran d fat h er wo ul d n ot i n t erfere w i t h or i m p ed e DFCS’ s o b li g at i on s

t o pro vi d e s erv ices

, t rai n i n g

, as s i s t an ce, an d t arg et ed cas e m an ag em en t t o th e m o t h er

an d ch i l d

. Th e ju ven i l e co u rt s en t t h e ch il d h o m e w i th h e r m ot h er an d g ran d fat h er

wi t h t h i s o rd er an d s afet y p l an i n p l ace.

W i t h reg ard t o t he m o th er, o n Au g u s t 1 7 , 2 0 1 1 , t h e co u rt en tered a “ Co n s en t

Ord er fo r Sh el t er Care.” T h e co u rt fo u n d t h at b as ed o n i nfo rm at i on t hat h ad b een

b ro u gh t b efo re it o n Au gu st 1 6

, 2 0 1 1

, co n t i n uat i o n in th e g ran d fat h er’ s h o m e wo u ld

b e co n t rary t o t he m o t h er’ s w el fare. Th e co u rt fo u n d th at i t w a s n eces sary fo r t h e

m o th er’ s p ro tect i o n t h at t h e m ot h er b e p l aced i n s h el ter care

15b ecau s e [t h e m o t h er] i s 17 an d h as a 2 m o n t h o l d i n fan t an d n eed s h el p

rai s i ng t he i n fan t; [DFCS] t ri ed i n -h om e p aren t i n g s es s i o ns t h ro ug h [a

p aren t i n g s erv i ces co m p a n y] ; ho wev er, d u e t o s o m e co g n i t iv e

l i m i t at i o n s

, i m

m at u ri t y

, an d i n t erferen ce fro m t h e [g ran dfat her] /s ol e

l eg al gu a r d i an

, [t h e m o t h er] w as u n ab l e t o l earn an d / o r d em on s trat e

ad eq u at e p aren t i n g s k i l l s

.

Th e o rd er s t at ed t h at t h e m o t h er s o u g h t to b e pl aced i n a g ro u p h o m e wi t h h er i n fan t

ch i l d

, an d t h e co u rt d i rect ed t h at t h e m o t h er b e pl aced i n a g ro u p h o m e fo r t een ag ed

m o th ers , p en d in g a 7 2 -h o u r h eari n g o n Sep t em b er 1 , 2 0 1 1

.

W i t h reg ard t o th e ch i ld

, t h e co u rt en t ered a s eco n d s h e l t er care o rd er o n

A u g u st 2 4

, 20 1 1

. Th e o rd er s t at ed t h at a p et it i o n h ad b een fi l ed an d t h at an

ad ju d i cat o ry

h eari n g h ad co m

m en ced o n Au g u s t 1 6

, 2 0 1 1

. T he co u rt fo u nd t h at t h e

m o th er was s t il l u nab l e t o d em o n s t rat e t h e p aren t i n g s ki l l s t au gh t t o h er b y o u t s i d e

s erv i ces

, an d t h at t h e g ran d fat h er h ad b een an i m p ed i m en t t o t h e s erv i ces DFCS h ad

b een at t em

p t i n g t o pro vi d e th e m ot h er. Th e co u rt o rd ered t h at t h e ch i l d b e p l aced in

t h e c u s t o d y o f DFCS, p en d i n g t h e co n t i n u at i o n o f t h e ad ju d i cat o ry h eari n g o n

Sep tem b er 1 , 2 0 1 1

.

Al l th e p art i es s t ip u l at e d t h at t h e m o t h er was d ep ri v ed

, an d o n Au g u s t 1 8,

2 0 1 1

, t h e m o t h er an d h er ch il d were pl aced t og et h er i n a “ Sec o n d Ch an ce Ho m e”

16wh ere t h e m o t h er co u l d l earn t o care fo r h er ch i l d

. Bu t th e m o t h er di d n ot wan t t o b e

at t h e g ro u p h o m e, t h e g ran d fat h er co n t in u ed t o in t erfere i n t h e m o t h er’ s care o f t h e

ch i l d

, an d t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t he m ot h er co u l d p a r en t th e ch il d al o n e. On

Sep tem b er 2 0

, 2 0 1 1, t he ch i l d was p l aced i n a fo s t er h o m e, w h ere t h e ch il d res i d ed

as o f t h e d at e o f t h e t erm in at i o n h eari n g.

T h e c o u r t en t ered a 3 1 -p ag e o rd er o n N o v em b er 3

, 2 0 1 1

, n u n c p ro t u n c t o

Sep tem b er 8

, 2 0 11

, ad

j u d icat i n g t h e ch il d d ep ri ved an d award i n g t em p o rary cu s t o dy

t o DFCS. Th e o rd er s t at ed t h at t h e m at t er h ad co m e b efo re t h e co u rt o n Au g u s t 1 6,

2 0 1 1

, Sep t em

b er 1

, 2 01 1

, an d Sep t em

ber 2 0, 2 0 1 1 fo r heari ng s

. Th e co u rt ad ju d g ed

t h e m ot h er n o t d ep ri v ed an d rel eas ed h er fro m t h e cu s t o d y o f D F C S

, as t h e

g ran d fat h er had wi t h d rawn h i s c o n s en t as t o h er d ep ri v at i o n; th e m o th er was t hu s

rel eas ed fro m th e g ro u p h om e. Th e o rd er al s o req u i red DFCS to p rep are “ co n cu rren t

p erm an en cy p lan s o f reu n i fi cat i o n an d n o n

- reu n i fi cat i o n / l i v e wi t h fi t an d wi l l i n g

rel at i v es ” fo r t h e m o t h er an d fat h er, an d to s et u p a v i s i t at i o n s ch ed u l e fo r t h e m o t h er

an d fat h er. 3 9 Th e c ou rt req u i red t h at t h e m o th er an d fat h er co m p l y wi th cas e p l an

co n di t i o n s

, i n cl u di ng o b t ai ni n g s i x m o n t h s o f s tab l e h o u s i n g

, s i x m o n t h s o f s t ab l e

i n co m e, a h i g h s ch o o l ed u cat i o n o r GED, an d a ps y ch o l og i cal ev al u at i o n an d p aren t al

3 9 Th e fat her o f B. R. F. l eg i t i m at ed t h e ch i l d i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 1

.

17fi tn es s ev al u at i o n ; nei t h er paren t h ad t o p ay ch i l d su p p o rt pro v i ded th ey co n t i n u ed

t o b e en ro l l ed i n s ch o o l fu l l -t i m e. Th e co u rt ad d ed t h at i t was “ p aram o un t ” t h at t h e

p aren t s n o t o n l y fu l fi l l t h e f o r e g o i n g req u irem en ts

, b u t t h at t h ey s h o w s u cces s fu l

i m p l em en t at io n o f p aren t i n g s k i l l s t h ey h ad b een t au g h t

.

A cas e r e v i e w h eari n g was h el d i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 2

, at wh ich t h e m o th er t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e d i d n o t b el i ev e t h at sh e was cap ab l e o f cari n g fo r h er ch i l d

. At t h e co n cl u s i o n

o f t h at h eari n g

, t h e ju d g e t o l d t h e m o t h er t h at h e w ou l d al l o w h er t o d eci d e wh et h er

s h e wan t ed s erv i ces o ffered b y D FCS an d i n wh i ch serv i ces s h e w an t ed t o p art i ci p at e;

at th e t i m e of t h e h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er h ad b een recei v i n g DFCS s erv ices fro m s ev eral

d i fferen t p eo pl e, i ncl u d i ng “ a t herap i s t an d a paren t ai d e an d t h en s o m eo n e t h at was

s u p erv i s i n g [t h e m o t her] wi t h v i s i t at i o n fo r p aren t i n g.” Aft er t he h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er

d i d n o t p art i ci p at e in an y s erv i ces o ffered b y DFCS; t h e m o th er d i d, h o wev er,

co n ti n u e t o v i s i t t h e ch i l d

. A few m o n t h s l at er, i n J u l y 2 0 1 2 , t h e m o th er wen t t o t h e

o ffi ces o f t h e g ran d fat h er’ s at to rn ey an d

, wi t h o u t t h e k n owl ed g e o f h er o wn at t o rn ey

,

s i gn ed do cu m en t s s urren d eri ng h er paren tal ri g h t s t o t h e g ran dfat h er. 4 0 DFCS

t h ereaft er t erm i n at ed t h e m o t h er’ s v i s i t at i o ns w i t h t h e ch i l d

, an d t h ere was n o fu rt h er

4 0 Th e g ran dfat h er had fi l ed i n s u p er i o r co u rt a p et i t i o n t o ad o p t B. R. F. an d

B. R. F.’ s fat her s urren d ered h i s p aren t al ri gh t s t o DFCS.

18co n tact bet wee n D F CS an d t h e m o t her. Al t h o ug h DFCS h ad i n i t ial l y as k ed fo r a

reu n i fi cat i on p erm an en cy p lan

, i n J u l y 2 01 2

, DFCS req u es t ed a ch an g e t o a

co n cu rren t reu n i fi cat io n an d n on -reu n i fi cat i o n /ad o p t i o n p l an

.

On Sep t em

b er 24

, 2 0 1 2

, DFCS fi l ed a p et i t i o n t o t erm i n at e t h e m o t h er’ s

p aren t al ri g h t s t o t h e ch i l d. A h eari n g was h el d o v e r t h e co u rs e o f s ev eral d ay s in

Decem b er 2 0 1 2. At t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g

, a D FCS s o ci al s e r v i c e s ad m i n i s t rat o r

t es t i fi ed t h at sh e h ad been i n v o l v ed i n B. R. F.’ s cas e s i n ce t h e b eg i n n in g

. Th e s o ci al

s erv i ces ad m i n i s t rat o r t es t i fi ed t h at wh en t h e cas e b eg an

, th e g ran d fat h er w o u l d n ot

al l o w t h e m o t h er to co o p erat e w i t h D FCS; t h e g ran d fat h er d i d n o t wan t DFCS

i n v o l v ed

. He wo u l d n o t al l ow DFCS t o s peak wi t h t h e m o t h er o u t s i d e t h e pres en ce

o f h er at to rn ey

, an d h e wo u l d t el l t h e m o th er n o t t o co o p erat e wi t h t h e i n -h o m e p aren t

ai d e o r t o d o s o m et h i ng co n trary t o wh at t h e i n -h o m e paren t ai d e w a s t e l l i n g t h e

m o th er t o d o

.

Co n cern i n g wh et h er t h e m o t h er h ad co m p l et ed h er cas e p l an g o al s, t h e s o ci al

s erv i ces ad m i n i s t rat or t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er h ad co m p l et ed a p s y ch o l o g i cal an d

p aren t al fi t n es s ev al u at i o n, bu t t h at s h e had n o t fo l l o wed al l th e reco m m en dat i o n s o f

t h e p s y ch o lo g i cal ev al u at i o n. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e m o t h er h ad no t s ho wn p ro of t h at s h e

h ad fo l lo wed u p o n a m en t al h eal t h d i a g n o s i s t h at req u i red h er t o t ak e m ed i cat i o n,

19an d h ad n o t s ho wn p ro o f t hat s h e h ad b een s een o r w as b ei ng seen b y a t h erap i s t

. Th e

m o th er h ad co m

p let ed p aren t i n g cl as s es

, b u t s h e w as u n ab l e t o i m p lem en t wh at s h e

h ad been t au g h t

. Th e m o t h er at ten d ed week l y s ch ed ul ed v i s it at io n s wi t h h er ch i l d b ut

t h ere were is s u es wi t h h er at t en t i v en es s an d h er res p on s i v en es s d u ri n g t h e v i s i t at i o n s

.

Fo r i ns t an ce, t h e m o t h er wo u ld s en d t ex t m es s ag es o n h er cel l p h o n e d u ri ng t h e en t i re

v i s i t

, o r wo u l d n o t be fu l l y e n g a g ed wi t h th e ch i l d

. Th e m o th er d i d n o t o b t ai n an d

m ai n t ai n a so u rce o f i n co m e; th e m o t h er d i d n o t o b t ai n an d m ai n tai n st ab l e, cl ean an d

s afe h o u s i n g ap pro v ed b y DFCS; an d t h e m o t h er h ad n o t co m p l et ed h i gh s ch o o l o r

a GED p ro g ram

. Th e m o t h er h ad h ad n o co n t act wi t h DFCS s i n ce s h e h ad ex ecu t ed

t h e s u rren d er o f p aren tal ri g h t s d o cu m en t s

.

Th e p s y ch o lo gi s t wh o co n d u ct ed t h e p s y ch o lo g i cal an d p aren tal fi t n es s

ev al u at i on o f t he m ot h er o n A u g u s t 24

, 2 0 1 1 w ro t e i n h i s rep o rt t h at t h e m o t h er h ad

d es cri b ed h er rel at i o n s h i p w i t h t h e g r an d fat h er as “ am azi n g

. I’ m a d ad d y ’ s g i rl .”

W h en t h e p s yc h o l og i s t as k ed t h e m o t h er wh at s h e h ad l earn ed i n h er paren t i n g

cl as s es an d at t h e g ro u p h o m e, t h e m o th er rep l i ed t hat s h e di d n o t k n o w. W i t h reg ard

t o t he m o t h er’ s m en t al h eal th h i s t ory

, t h e m o t h er t o l d t h e p sy ch o lo g i s t t h at w h en s h e

was 1 4 o r 1 5 y ears o ld

, s h e h ad t ak en a cert ai n d ru g “ fo r ADHD,” an d t h at s h e ju s t

s t op p ed t ak i n g i t b ecau s e i t “ was n ’ t d oi n g an y t h i n g .” Bu t t h e p s y ch o l o g is t n o t ed t h at

20t h e d ru g t h e m o t h er h ad s peci fi ed was n o t a m ed i cat io n t h at was co m m o n l y

p res cri bed fo r ADHD. Th e m o t h er d es cri b ed h er o wn m o o d as “ Bi tch y

, ” s t at i n g t h at

t h at was “ ju s t m y p ers o n al it y .”

Th e p s y ch o l o g i st wro t e t h at t h e m ot h er g en eral l y cam e acro s s as

“ ex t rao rd i n ari l y i m

m at u re, w it h m an n eri s m s an d s p eech t h at u s u al l y i s s een i n m u ch

y o u n g er ch i l dren ,” an d t h at t h e m o t h er ga ve n o ns en s i cal res p o n s es to s o m e q u es t i o n s

.

Th e p s y ch o l o g i s t wro t e th at “ i n s p i t e o f [t he m o t h er’ s ] b ei n g co h eren t an d reas o n ab l y

art i cu l at e, [h er] d i ct i o n

, n on v erb al g es t u r e s

, an d o veral l p res en t at i o n s ug g es t ed t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f co g n i t i v e d efi ci t s .” Th e p s y ch o l o g i s t w ro t e t h at i t was o f ex t r e m e

co n cern t o h im t h at t h ro u g h o u t t h e ev al u at i o n

, t h e m o t h er h ad ex pres s ed fru s t rat i o n

wi t h hav i n g t o care fo r h er b ab y “ ro u n d th e cl o ck ,” n o t i n g t hat t h e ch i ld cri ed an d t h at

t h e cry in g k ep t h er u p at n i g ht

. Th e m o t her had co m pl ai n ed ab o u t n earl y al l as p ect s

o f cari n g fo r t h e i n fan t ch i l d

, an d m o re t h an o n ce as k ed wh et h er t he ev al u at i o n co u ld

b e ex t en d ed s o t h at s h e co u ld d el ay h av i n g t o ret u rn t o th e g ro u p h o m e an d b ei n g

s ad d led wi t h t h e res p o n si b il i ty o f cari n g fo r h er ch i l d

.

Th e p s y ch o l o g i s t rep o rt ed t h at t h e m o t h er’ s IQ t es t res u l t s w ere in t h e av erag e

ran g e, wh i ch s eem ed t o i n d icat e t h e ab s en ce o f an y co g n i t i v e o r in t el l ect u al d efi ci t s

t h at wo u ld i n h eren t l y p rev en t h er fro m p o t en ti al l y ex erci s i n g ad eq u at e ju d g m en t o r

21m ak i n g s o u n d p aren t i n g d eci s i o n s

, b u t t h e m o th er’ s res po n s es t o cert ai n q u e s t i on s

s u g g es t ed t h e p o t en t ia l fo r ex t rem el y p o o r ju dg m en t

. Th e ps y ch o l og i s t reco m m en d ed

t h at t h e m o t h er p art i ci p at e i n i nd i v i d u al t h erap y , an d o b tai n di ag n os t i c cl ari fi cat i o n

o f m e n t a l h e a l t h n eed s s h e m ay h av e. Th e p s y ch o l o g i st cau t i on ed t h at an y p l an fo r

t h e m ot h er t o i n d ep en d en tl y care fo r t h e ch i l d s ho u l d b e u n d ert ak en w i t h “ ex t rem el y

h i g h d eg rees o f cau t i on .”

A t h erap i s t wh o m t h e g ran d fat h er h ad co nt act ed i n Au g u s t 2 01 2 t es t i fi ed t h at

h e (t h e t herap i s t ) h ad h ad fo u r s es s i o n s wi t h th e m o t h er, an d t h at t h e g ran d fat h er h ad

acco m pan i ed t h e m o t h er t o t he s es s i o n s

. Th e t h erap i s t t es ti fi ed t h at i t was h i s

i m p res s i o n t h at th e m o th er “ k n o ws s h e’ s n o t read y fo r [p aren t i ng ] an d t h at s h e k n o ws

t h at s o m eo n e el s e i s g o in g t o b e

– d o t h at [s i c] ,” t h at t h e m o t h e r was “ p ret t y

i m m at ure” an d d i d n o t “ h av e a real go o d u n d ers t an d i n g

. . . o f m o v i n g t o w a r d

i n d ep en den ce,” an d t h at i n hi s o p i n i o n

, t h e m o t her d i d n o t h av e t h e ab i l i t y t o care fo r

a b ab y an d h ad t o l d h i m

s o

.

At t h e t i m e o f t h e t erm i n at i o n heari n g

, t h e m o t her l iv ed wi th t h e gran d fat h er.

Sh e t es t ifi ed t h at s he had ex ecu t ed d o cu m en t s s u rren d eri n g her p aren tal ri g h t s in

fav o r of h er fat h er (t h e gran d fat h er) s o t hat t he ch i l d co u l d “ s t ay

. . . wi t h t h e fam i l y ,”

an d t h at s h e wo u l d b e an “ as s i s t an t p ers o n ” t o t h e g ran d fat h er, o r a “ b i g s is ter” t o t h e

22ch i l d

, b u t n o t th e ch i ld ’ s p ri m ary careg i v er. DFCS had co n d u ct ed a h o m e p l acem en t

ev al u at i on o f t h e g ran dfat her’ s h o m e, b u t d i d n ot ap p ro v e t he h o m e as a p l acem en t

res o u rce fo r B. R. F.

In ren d eri n g it s ju d g m en t

, t h e ju v en i le co u rt fi rs t ad d res s ed DFCS’ s co n t en t i o n

t h at t h e m o t h er’ s v o l u n tary s u rren d er o f h er paren t a l r i g h t s to th e gran d fat h er was

i n v al i d

. At t h e term i n at i o n h eari n g

, DFACS arg u ed

, an d t h e ju ven i l e co u rt u l t i m at el y

ag reed

, t h at t h e m ot her h ad su rren d ered her ri g ht s o n l y t o av o i d co m p l et i n g h er co u rt

o rd ered reu n i fi cat i o n g o al s an d as a s u b t erfu g e t o av o i d t he in v o l u n tary t erm i n at i o n

o f her p aren t al ri gh t s

, wi t h t h e h o p e t h at s h e co u l d m ai n t ai n co n tro l of B. R

. F.

t h ro u g h t h e g ran dfat h er. 4 1 Th e co u rt co n t i nu ed wi t h t h e t erm i nat i o n h eari n g

, a n d

t h ereaft er t erm i n at ed t h e m ot h er’ s p aren t al ri gh t s

.

On ap peal

, t h e m o t h er co n t en d s t h at a reas o n ab l e fi n d er o f fact co ul d n o t h av e

fo u n d b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce th at : s h e was t h e cau s e o f t h e ch i l d ’ s

d ep ri v at i o n fo r t h e req u is i t e am o u n t o f t i m e; an y d ep ri v at i o n s u ffered b y t h e ch i ld

was l i k el y

t o co nt i n u e o r l i k el y

n o t t o b e rem ed ied ; an d d ep ri v at i o n wo u ld cau s e o r

was l i k el y

t o cau s e s eri o u s p h y s i cal , m en t al , o r em o t i o n al h arm t o t h e ch il d

.

4 1 Th e ju ven i l e co urt fo un d t h at t h e b i ol o g i cal fat h er’ s su rren d er o f hi s p aren t al

ri gh t s was v o l u n t ari l y

g i v en an d n o t l at er rev o k ed

.

23To p ro v e t h at p aren t al ri gh t s o u g h t t o b e t erm i n at ed

, [DFCS] fi rs t m u s t

p ro v e “ paren t al m i s co n d u ct or i n ab i l i t y ” b y cl ear an d co n v in ci n g

ev i d en ce.[ 4 2 ] Su ch p ro o f req u i res [DFCS] t o es t ab li s h t h at (1 ) th e ch i l d

i s dep ri v ed ; (2 ) t h e d ep ri v at i o n r e s u l t s fro m a l ack o f pro p er p aren t al

care o r co nt ro l ; (3 ) t h e cau s e o f t h e d ep ri v at i on i s l i k el y t o co nt i n u e; an d

(4 ) co n t i n u ed d ep ri v at i o n i s l i k el y t o cau se s eri o u s p h y s i cal

, m en tal

,

em o t i o n al

, o r m o ral h arm t o t h e ch i l d .[ 4 3 ] W here [DFCS ] carri es t h i s

b u rd en

, i t t hen m

u s t p ro v e t hat t erm i nat i on o f p aren t al ri g h t s i s i n th e

b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

, aft er co ns i d eri n g t h e p h ys i cal

, m en t al

,

em o t i o n al

, an d m o ral co n d it i on an d need s o f t h e c h i l d

, i ncl u d in g th e

n eed fo r a s ecu re an d s t ab l e h o m e. 4 4

(a) Pa r en t a l Mi sco n d

u ct o r In ab i l i t

y

. Th e m o t h er co n t en d s th at a reas o n ab l e

fi nd er o f fact co u l d no t h av e fo un d b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i den ce t h at s h e was t h e

cau s e o f t h e ch i l d’ s d ep ri v at i o n as req u i red p u rs u an t t o fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b )

(4 ) (A) (i i ). Sh e as s ert s t hat t h e ch il d w as d ep ri ved d u e t o t h e g ran d fat h er’ s co n d u ct ;

t h at DFCS di d n o t d o en o u g h t o a s si s t her i n g ai n i ng i n d ep en d en ce fro m t h e

4 2 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (a) (2 0 1 2 ).

4 3 See OCGA § 15 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (A) (i )-(i v ) (2 0 1 2).

4 4 In t h e In t er es t o

f M

. S. S

., 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 4, 6 2 0 (2 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 5 70 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

24g ran d fat h er; an d th at t here was n o ev i den ce t h at s he h a d f a i l e d t o co m

p l y wi t h t h e

reu n i fi cat i on p lan fo r at l eas t a y ear p ri or t o t h e fi l in g o f t h e t erm i nat i o n p et i t i o n

.

(i ) Dep ri va t i o n

. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt p rev i o u s l y ad j u d icat ed th e ch il d t o b e

d ep ri v ed an d, i n t h e ord er t erm i n at i n g t h e m ot her’ s p a r e n t al ri g h t s

, t o o k ju d i ci al

n o t i ce o f i t s d ep ri v at i o n ord er. As t h e m o t h er n ev er ap p eal ed t h e d ep ri v at i on fi n d i n g,

s h e i s n o w b ou n d b y

i t. 4 5

(i i) La ck o

f p r o p e r pa r en t a l ca r e o r co nt r o l ca us ed t h e d ep r i va t i o n

. Th e

m o th er’ s cl ai m t hat a reas o n ab l e fact fi n d er co ul d n o t h av e fo u n d b y cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at s h e h ad u n ju s t i fi a b l y f

a i l ed t o co m

p ly wi th t h e co urt ’ s

reu n i fi cat i on p lan an d t h at th e d ep ri v at i o n was d u e t o t he act s an d o m is s i o n s o f t h e

“ M ot h er as o p p o s ed t o Gran d fat h er” l ack s m eri t

.

Al t h ou g h t h e g ran d fat h er i n i t ial l y i m p ed ed th e m ot h er fro m co o p erat i n g wi th

DFCS, wh en t h e m o t her t u rn ed 1 8 y ears o ld o n No v em b er 2 3

, 2 0 1 1

, s h e was ab l e to

(an d d i d ) at t en d p aren t i n g cl as s es o ffered b y DFCS. M oreo v er, t h e m ot h er at t en d ed

s ch ed u l e d s u p erv i s ed v i s i t s wi t h t h e ch i l d. Bu t in Ap ri l 2 0 1 2

, s h e t es ti fi ed t h at s h e

was n o t cap ab l e of t ak in g care o f B. R. F., sh e el ect ed t o st o p r ecei v i n g s erv i ces

4 5 See In th e In ter es t of J. S

. B

. , 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 0, 66 1 (2 ) (a) (6 2 7 SE2 d 4 0 2 )

(2 0 0 6).

25DFCS o ffered

, an d s h o rt l y t h ereaft er, s h e ex ecu ted d o cu m en t s s u rren d er i n g h er

p aren t al ri g h t s

. T h e m o t h er t o l d h er t h erap i s t t hat sh e d i d n ot h av e t h e ab i l i t y t o care

fo r h er ch i l d

, an d t h ere was am p l e t es t i m o n y t h at t h e m o th er was i m m at u re an d,

u l t i m at el y s t an d in g al o n e, was n o t cap ab l e of m as t eri n g an d u t il i zi n g t he n eces s ary

s k i l l s t o m eet h er p aren t in g o b li g at i o n s

. 4 6

M o reo v er, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at t h e m o th er d i d n o t co m p let e h er cas e p l an

.

Sh e h ad n o t fo l l o wed al l th e reco m m en d at i o n s of t h e ps y ch ol o g i cal ev al u at i o n

, i n t h at

s h e fai l ed t o s h o w p ro o f t hat s he h ad fo l l o wed u p o n a m en t al h eal t h d i ag n o s i s t h at

req u i red h er to t ak e m ed i cat i o n ; s h e h ad no t co m p l et e d h i gh s ch oo l o r a GED

p ro g ram ; s h e wa s i n at t en t iv e d u ri n g v is i ts wi th t h e ch i l d ; s h e s t i l l li v ed wi t h t h e

g ran d fat h er an d h ad n o t o b tai n ed an d m ai n tai n ed s t ab l e, cl ea n an d s afe h o u s i n g

ap p ro v ed b y

DFCS; an d m o s t im

p o rt an t l y

, t he m o t h er was u n ab l e t o i m p l em en t t h e

p aren t i n g s k i l l s s h e h ad b een t au g ht

. 4 7

4 6 See In re A. R

., 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 02

, 71 0 (1 ) (c) (6 9 1 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ Th e

t es t i n d et erm i n i n g t erm i n at i o n of p aren tal ri g h ts

, . . . i s w h e th er t h e m o t h er,

u l t i m at el y s t an d in g al o n e, i s cap ab l e o f m as t eri n g an d u t i li zi n g t h e n eces s ary s k i l l s

t o m eet h er p aren t i n g o b l i g at io n s .”) (ci t at i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n, an d fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed ).

4 7 Se e i d. (“ Fi n al ly

, an d p erh ap s m o s t im p o rt an tl y

, we no t e t h at ev en wh en

co n st ru ed i n h er fav o r, t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e p s y ch o l o g is t an d th e wi t n es ses cal l ed to

t es t i fy o n t h e m ot her’ s beh al f sh o ws t h at t h e m o t h er co u l d p a r e n t t h e ch i l d ren o n l y

wi t h s o m e ty

p e o f as s i st an ce.”); In t h e In t er es t o f Z. H

. T

., 3 0 2 G a. A p p

. 4 24

, 4 2 9 (1 )

26Th e m o t h e r c o m p l ai n s t hat DFCS d i d no t d o en o u gh to as s i s t h er i n g ai n i n g

i n d ep en den ce fro m t h e g ran d fat h er. Bu t t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e m o t h er, wh o

d es cri b ed h ers el f as a “ d ad dy ’ s g i rl ,” wan ted t o b e i n dep en d en t o f t h e g ran d fat her.

Befo re s h e t u rn ed 1 8 y ears o ld

, t h e m o t h e r an d ch i l d were pl aced i n a g ro u p

h o m e fo r t een ag ed m o t h ers s o t h at t h e m o t h er co u ld l earn t o care fo r her ch i l d

. Bu t

t h e m o t h er d i d n o t wi l l i n g l y g o t o t h e g ro u p h o m e, an d wh i l e t h ere, s h e co m p l ai n ed

ab o ut p aren t i n g t a s k s

. Af ter t he m o t h er t u rn ed 1 8 y ears o l d

, s he t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

wan ted t h e g ran dfat h er t o ad o p t B. R. F., an d t h at sh e d es i red t o l i v e i n t h e

g ran d fat h er’ s h o m e an d act as an as s i s t an t t o h im i n cari n g fo r B. R. F., b ut n o t as t h e

ch i l d ’ s p ri m ary careg i v er. M o reo v er, in Ap ri l 2 0 1 2

, t h e m o t h er s t o p p ed p art i ci p at i n g

(a) (6 9 1 SE2 d 2 9 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ W h ere, as h ere, t h e ch i l d ren h av e b een rem ov ed fro m

p aren t al cu s t o d y

, DFCS m ay p ro v e cu rren t d ep ri v at i o n b y s h o wi n g t h at

, i f t h e

ch i l d r e n were ret u rn ed to t h ei r m o t h er at t h e t i m e o f t h e h eari n g, t h ey wo u l d b e

d ep ri v ed

. Th is m ay be es t ab l i s h ed b y s h o wi n g t h at t h e co n d i t i o n s u p o n wh i ch an

earl ier fi n d i n g o f d ep ri v at io n was b as ed s t i l l ex is t at t he t i m e o f t h e t erm i n at i o n

h eari n g .”); In t h e In t er es t o f H. F. G

., 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2, 2 6, 2 7 ( 1 ) ( 6 3 5 SE2 d 3 3 8 )

(2 0 0 6) (al t h ou g h t h e m o t h er h ad co m p l et ed m o s t o f h er cas e p lan g o al s an d wi s h ed

t o b e p art o f h er ch i l d ’ s l i fe, t he ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at s he l ack ed th e m en t al cap aci t y

t o care fo r t h e ch il d w i t ho u t “ aro u n d -t he-cl o ck a s s i s t an ce fro m o t h ers ,” s o m et h i n g

DFCS was n o t o b l i g at ed t o p ro v i d e; g i v en t h e m o t h er’ s m en t al cap aci t y

, h er i n ab i l i t y

t o care fo r h er ch i l d b y

h ers el f, an d t h e fact t hat t h e ch i l d ’ s fo s ter p aren t s wi s h ed to

ad o pt h i m

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt d i d n o t ab u se it s d i s cret i on i n fi n d i n g t h at t erm i n at i o n

o f t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al ri g ht s s erv ed t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d).

27i n s erv ices p ro v i d ed b y DFCS an d d ecl i ned t h e co u rt ’ s o ffer t o recei v e DFCS

s erv i ces ; y et s h e l at er wen t wi t h t h e g ran d fat h er t o s ee a t h erap i s t.

Th e m o th er o b s erv es t h at t h e c a s e p l an o rd er was en t ered o n No v em b er 3,

2 0 1 1

, y et t h e p et i t i o n t o t erm i n at e h er p aren t al ri g h t s was fi l ed l es s t h an a y ear l at er,

o n Sep t em

b er 2 4 , 2 0 1 2

.

Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (C) (i i i ) (2 0 1 2 ) p ro v i d ed t hat i n ad d i t i o n to

t h e co n s i d erat io n s i n s u bp arag rap h (B) o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (2 0 1 2 ),

wh ere t h e ch i l d i s n o t i n t h e cu s t o d y o f t h e p aren t wh o i s t he s u b j ect o f

t h e p ro ceed i n g s

, in d et erm i n in g wh et h er t he ch i l d i s w i t h o u t p ro p er

p aren t al care an d co n tro l, t h e co u rt s h al l co n s i d er, wi t h o u t b ei n g li m i ted

t o , wh et her t h e p aren t wi t h o u t ju s t i fi ab l e cau s e h as fai l ed s i gn i fi can t l y

fo r a p eri o d o f o n e y ear o r l o n g er p ri o r t o t h e fi l i n g o f t he p et i t i o n fo r

t erm i n at io n o f p aren tal ri g h ts

. . . t o c om p l y wi t h a co u rt ord ered p lan

d es i gn ed t o reu n i t e t h e ch i l d wi t h t h e p aren t o r p aren t s. . . . 4 8

“ [E] v en i f t h e reu n ifi cat i o n p l an h as b een i n effect fo r l es s th an on e y ear, a

t erm i n at i o n of p aren t al ri g ht s m ay b e warran ted b y o t h er fact o rs .” 4 9 “ Th e co u rt s h o u ld

rem ai n m i n d fu l t h at t h e t i m e l im i t at i o n i n fo rm er OCGA § 15

- 1 1

- 9 4 (b ) (4 ) (C) i s

4 8 In t h e In t er es t o

f C. A. S

., 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 75 7

, 76 0 (2 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 55 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

4 9 Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

28d es i g n ed t o g iv e t h e p aren t wh os e ri g h ts are s u b j ect to term i n at i on s u ffi ci en t t i m e an d

o p p o rt u ni t y t o d em o n s t rat e h i s o r h er ab i l i t y t o co m p l y wi th t h e term s of t h e co urt ’ s

o rd er.” 5 0

Here, des p i te al l paren ti n g an d reu n i fi cat i o n serv i ces p ro v i ded

, i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 2

t h e m o t h e r t es t i fi ed th at s h e was n o t cap ab l e of cari n g fo r B. R. F., s h e d ecl i n ed

fu rt her s erv i ces by D FCS, an d s h o rt l y t h ereaft er, s h e ex ecu t ed su rren d er o f p aren t al

ri gh t s d o cu m en t s

. On ce gi v en th e o p p o rt u n i ty t o res i d e wi t h t he ch i l d away fro m t h e

g ran d fat h er an d to l earn p aren t i n g s k i l l s

, t h e m o t h er co m p l ai n ed an d s ou g h t t o av o id

h er p aren t al res p o n si b il i ti es

. Th e m o t h er l at er ex p res s ed t o h er t h erap is t t h at s h e was

u n ab le t o care fo r B. R. F., an d s h e co n t i n u ed t o res id e wi th t h e g ran d fat h er, wh o s e

h o m e D F C S d i d n o t ap pro v e as a p l acem en t res o u rce fo r B. R. F. Th e m o t h er’ s

act i on s were co n t rary t o an y des i re t o p aren t B. R. F., o r t o fo l l o w t he co u rt ’ s o rd ers

,

t h u s o b v i at i n g t h e n eed fo r DFCS t o w a i t ap p ro x i m at el y s i x m o re w eek s b efo re

m o vi n g t o t erm i n at e h er p aren tal ri g h ts

. 5 1

5 0 Al i z o ta v. S t a n

f i el d

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 50

, 5 5 8 (7 6 5 SE2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

5 1 See g en eral l y In t h e In t er es t o f C. A. S ., s u pra.

29(i ii ) Ca u s e of t he dep r i va t i o n i s l i kel y t o co n t i n u e

. Th e m o t h er co n t en d s t h at a

reas on ab l e fi n der o f fact co u l d n o t h av e fo un d b y cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en ce t h at

a n y dep ri v at i o n s u ffered b y t h e ch il d was li k el y to co nt i n ue o r l i k el y no t t o b e

rem ed ied

.

Th e m o t her t es ti fi ed t h at s h e was n o t cap ab l e o f t ak i n g care o f B. R. F.; s h e t o ld

h er t h erap i s t t h at s h e was u nab l e t o care fo r B. R. F.; an d t he t h erap i s t t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e m o t h er was i m m a t u r e an d

, i n h i s o p i n io n

, d i d n o t h av e t h e ab i l i t y t o care fo r a

b ab y

.

Here, t he ev i d en ce sh o w ed t h at d es p i t e h er g o o d i n t en ti on s

, t h e m o t h er

h as n ev er su cces sfu l l y paren t ed t h e [ch il d ] al on e, an d

. . . t h ere was m o re

t h an cl ear an d co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce t h a t t h e m o th er [was ] s i m p l y n o t

cap ab l e o f f

u l fi l l i n g h er p aren t i n g o b l i g at i o n s

. Th u s

, t h e co u rt w as

en t i t l ed t o i n fer fro m t h e ev i d en ce t h at

, d es p i t e t h e b e s t effo rt s o f

[DFCS]

. . . , t h e s am e p at t e r n o f dep ri v at i o n wo u l d co nt i n ue i f th e

[ch i l d ] were reu n it ed wi t h [h er] m o th er. 5 2

M o reo v er, at t h e t i m e o f t h e t erm i n at io n h eari n g

, t he m ot h er res i d ed i n t h e

g ran d fat h er’ s h o m e, fro m wh i ch B. R. F. had b een rem o v ed i n t h e fi rs t pl ace, an d

DFCS d i d n o t ap p ro v e t h at h o m e as a p l acem en t res o u rce fo r t he ch i l d

.

5 2 In t h e In t er es t of A. R

., s u p ra at 7 1 0 (1 ) (d ) (ci tat i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d

fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed ).

30(i v) Co n t i n u ed d ep ri va t i o n i s l i kel

y t o ca u s e h a r m . Th e m o th er co n t en d s t h at

a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d n o t h av e fo u nd b y cl ear an d c o n v i n c i n g ev i d en ce t h at

co n ti n u ed d ep ri vat i o n was l ik el y t o cau s e s eri o u s p h ys i c a l

, m en t al

, em o t i o n al

, o r

m o ral h arm t o th e ch i l d

. 5 3 Th e DFCS s o ci al s erv i ces ad m i n i s t rat o r an d t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t ifi ed t h at t h e c h i l d

, wh o h ad b een i n fo s ter care fo r 1 6 m o n th s

,

n eed ed p erm an en cy

, s o m et h i n g t h at was u n at tai n ab l e i n t h e m o t her’ s care. Th e s o ci al

s erv i ces ad m i n i s t rat o r tes ti fi ed t o t h e g reat em o ti on al t rau m a s u ffered b y a ch i l d “ in

l i m b o .” B. R. F. h ad b on d ed wi t h h er fo s t er p aren t s

, wh o wan t ed to ad o pt t h e ch i l d.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt was au t h o ri zed t o co n s i d er t h e ad v ers e effect s

o f p ro l o n ged fo s t er care i n d et erm i ni n g th at co n ti n u ed d ep ri v at i o n i s

l i kel y t o cau s e s eri o u s p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, em o t i o n al

, or m o ral harm t o th e

ch i l d [ ]

. In d eed

, ch i l d ren n e e d p e r m an en ce o f h o m e an d em o t i o nal

s t ab il i t y o r t hey are l i k el y t o s u ffer s eri o u s em o t i o n a l pro b l em s

. A

cas ewo rk er’ s tes ti m on y ab o ut t h e n ee d fo r p erm an en cy m ay be

co n s i d ered . Th e ev i d en ce s u ffi ced o n t h i s fact o r. 5 4

“ [T] h e s am e fact s t h at su p p o rt a ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s co n cl u si o n t h a t a ch i l d i s

d ep ri v ed an d t hat t h e d ep ri v at io n i s l i kel y t o co nt i n ue i f p laced wi t h t h e p aren t al s o

5 3 See OCGA 1 5-1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (A) (i v ) (2 0 1 2).

5 4 In t h e In ter es t o

f M. C. L

., 2 5 1 Ga. A p p

. 1 3 2, 1 3 6 (1 ) (b ) (5 5 3 SE2 d 6 4 7 )

(2 0 0 1) (p u n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i tt ed ).

31s u p p ort a co n cl u s i o n t h at co n t i n u ed d ep ri v at io n wo u l d l i kel y cau s e t h e ch i l d s eri ou s

h arm .” 5 5 “ Bas ed on th e [m o t her’ s ] p as t b eh av i o r an d [h er] u n w i ll i n g n es s an d i n ab i l i t y

t o c o m p l y wi t h si g ni fi can t req u i rem en t s o f [h er] cas e p l an

, we fi n d t h at a rat i o n al

fact fi n d er co u l d h av e fo u n d b y cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at g iv i n g cu s t o d y to

[t he m o t h er] wo ul d s eri o u s l y h arm t h e ch il d .” 5 6

(b ) Bes t i n t er es t o

f t h e c h i l d

. As fo r t h e seco n d p ro n g o f t h e t erm i n at i o n

an al y s i s, t h e m o th er d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e j u v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g th at t erm i n at i o n

o f h er p aren t al ri g h t s was i n t h e b es t i nt e res t o f t he ch i l d

. N o t wi t h st an d in g

, we are

p ers u ad ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce sh o wed t h at t erm i n at i o n o f t h e m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s

w a s i n t he b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

, co n s i d eri ng t h e ch i l d ’ s p h y s i cal

, m en t a l

,

em ot i o n al , an d m o ral co n d i t i o n an d “ n eed fo r a s ecu re an d s t ab l e h o m e.” 5 7

5 5 In t h e In t er es t o

f A. E

., 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 6

, 2 0 9 (2 ) (c) (7 2 3 SE2 d 4 9 9) (2 0 1 2 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

5 6 In t h e In t er es t o

f D. O. R

., 2 8 7 G a. Ap p

. 6 5 9

, 6 6 3 (1 ) (i v ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 3 1 4 )

(2 0 0 7).

5 7 In t he In t er es t

o f A. B

. , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 0 , 2 3 2 (6 1 7 SE2 d 1 8 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

32“ Th e s am e ev i den ce s h o wi n g p aren t al m i sco n d u ct o r i nab i l i t y m ay

, an d h ere

d o es

, es t ab l i sh t hi s req u i rem en t .” 5 8 A c h i l d n eed s p erm an en cy

, st ab i l i t y

, an d a s afe

en v iro n m en t

, wh i ch t h e m o th er can n o t p ro v i d e. 5 9 “ Th e ju v en i l e co u rt was au t h o ri zed

t o co n s i d er t he [ch i l d ’ s ] need fo r a s t ab l e h om e s it u at i o n an d t h e d et ri m en t al effect s

o f p ro l o ng ed fo s t er care.” 6 0 Th e DFCS s o ci al s erv i ces ad m i n i s trat o r an d t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e ch i l d

, wh o h ad b een in fo s ter care fo r m o re t han a y ear,

n eed ed p erm an en cy

. “ G i v en t h i s ev id en ce, an d h av i ng rev i ewed t h e en t i re reco rd in

t h i s cas e, we fi n d t h at t h ere is s u ffi ci en t cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s d eci si o n t o t erm i n at e t h e m o t h er’ s p aren tal ri g h ts .” 6 1

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. Ba r n es

, P

. J

. , a n d El l i n g t on

, P.J., co n cu r

. McFa d d en

, J.,

co n cu r s f u l l y a n d s p eci a l l y. Ra y, J. co n cu r

s i n j u d g m en t o n l

y

. An d r ews

, P.J., a n d

McMi l l ia n

, J., d i s s en t

.

5 8 In t h e In t er es t o

f T. J

., 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 3

, 6 75 -6 7 6 (1 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 75 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee In t h e In t er es t o f M. L. P

., 2 36 G a. Ap p

. 5 0 4,

5 1 0 (1 ) (d ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 65 2) (1 9 99 ) (ju v en i l e co urt has b ro ad d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n i n g

h o w t he i n teres t o f t he ch i l d i s b es t s erv ed ).

5 9 See In t h e In t er es t o

f T. J ., s u p ra at 6 7 6 (1 ).

6 0 Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 1 Id .; s ee In th e In t er es t

o f A. E ., s u p ra at 2 1 0 (2 ) (d ); In t h e In t er es t o f D. O.

R ., s u pra at 6 63 (2 ).

33A1 4 A1 53 6 . IN THE INTEREST OF B. R. F., a ch i ld

.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y an d s p eci al l y

.

I jo i n fu l l y i n t h e m ajo ri t y o p i n i o n an d wri t e s ep arat el y t o ex p l ai n t h at o u r

e x e r c i s e o f ju ri s d i ct io n o v er t h e m eri t s i s m an d at ed b y La s s it er v. Dep t

. o f S o ci a l

S vcs . o f Du r ha m Co u n t

y , 4 5 2 U. S. 1 8 (1 0 1 SCt 2 1 53 , 6 8 LEd 2 d 6 4 0 ) (1 9 8 1 ).

Th e Su p r e m e C o u rt o f t h e Un i ted St at es h as rep eat ed l y d rawn b ou n d ari es

b ey o n d wh i ch s t at e t erm i n at io n-o f-p aren t al -ri g h t s p ro ceed i n g s m ay n o t t res p as s

. It

h a s h e l d t h a t p aren tal ri g ht s m ay n o t be term i n at ed u p on les s t h an cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce, S

a nt os ky v. Kr a m er

, 45 5 U. S. 7 4 5

, 7 6 9 -7 7 0 (IV) (1 0 2 SCt

1 3 8 8

, 7 1 LEd 2 d 5 9 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ), an d i t h as h el d t h at a st at e m ay n o t co n di t i o n ap p eal s

fro m term i n a t i o n s o f paren t al ri g h t s o n th e ab i l i t y t o p ay reco rd p rep arat io n fees

.

M.L.B. v. S

.L.J. , 5 1 9 U. S. 1 0 2

, 1 1 9-1 2 4 (V) (1 1 7 SCt 5 5 5

, 1 3 6 L E d 2d 4 7 3 ) (1 9 9 6 )(reaffi rm i n g t h at co u rt s m u s t res i s t t h e “ feeb l e en t i c e m e n t o f t h e ci v il l ab el -o fco n ven i en ce”) (ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ).

An d

, co nt rary t o t h e d i s se nt, t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f t h e Un i t ed St at es reco g n i zed

a d u e p ro ces s ri g h t t o co u n s el i n t erm i n at i o n cas es in La s s i t er v. Dep t

. o f S o ci a l S vcs

.

o f Du r h a m Co u n t

y

, 45 2 U. S. 1 8

. It i s t ru e th at La s s i t er d o es n o t reco g n i ze an

u n q u al i fi ed ri g h t to co un s el

. In d eed

, i t reco g n izes a “ p res um p t i on t h at an i n d i g en t

l i ti g an t h as a ri g ht t o ap p o i nt ed co u n s el o n l y wh en , i f h e l o ses , h e m ay b e d ep ri v ed

o f h i s p h y s i cal l i b ert y .” Id . at 2 6 -2 7 (II) (A). Bu t t h e h o ld i n g o f La ss i t er is t h at t h i s

p res u m p t i o n can b e o v erco m e: “ It i s ag ai n s t t h i s p res u m p ti on t h at al l ot h er el em en t s

i n t he d u e p ro ces s d eci s i o n m u s t b e m eas u red .” Id . at 2 7 (II) (A).

As t o t h e p erfo rm an ce o f t h is m eas u rem en t, La ss i t er i d en ti fi es

t h r e e e l em en t s t o b e ev al u at ed i n d eci d i ng wh at du e p ro ces s req u i res

,

v i z., t h e p ri v at e i n t eres t s at s t ak e, th e g o v ern m en t ’ s i nt eres t

, an d t he ri s k

t h a t t h e p ro ced u res u s ed wi ll l ead t o erro n eo u s d eci s i o n s

. W e m u s t

b al an ce t h es e el em en t s ag ai n s t each o t h er, an d t h en s et t h ei r n et wei g h t

i n t h e s cal es ag ai ns t t h e p r e s u m p t i o n t h at t here i s a ri gh t t o ap p oi n ted

co u n s el o n l y w h ere t h e i n d i g en t

, i f h e i s un s ucces s fu l

, m ay lo s e h i s

p ers on al freed om

.

4 5 2 U. S. at 2 7 (II) (B) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

2Th e La s si t er co u rt fi rs t an al y zed t h o s e fact o rs as to te r m ina ti o n cas es g en eral l y

.

It su m m ari zed t h at an al y s i s as fo l l ows

.

[T] h e p aren t ’s i n t eres t i s an ex t rem el y im p o rt an t o ne (an d m ay be

s u p p l em en t ed b y t h e d an g ers o f cri m i nal l i ab i l it y i n h eren t i n s o m e

t erm i n at io n p ro ceed i ng s ); t h e St at e s h ares wi t h t h e p aren t an i n t eres t i n

a co rrect d eci s i o n

, h as a rel at i v el y weak p ecu ni ary i n t eres t

, an d

, i n s o m e

b u t n o t al l cas es

, h as a po s s i b l y s t ro n g er i n teres t in in fo rm al p ro ced u res ;

a n d t h e co m

p l ex i t y o f t h e p ro ceed i n g an d t h e i n cap aci t y of th e

u n co u n s el ed paren t co ul d b e, b u t wo u ld n o t al way s b e, g reat en o ug h t o

m ak e t h e ri s k o f an erro n eo u s dep ri v at i o n o f t h e p aren t ’s r i g h t s

i n s u p p ort ab l y

h i g h

.

4 5 2 U. S. at 3 1 (II) (C).

Hav i n g d et erm i n ed t h at ap p o i n t ed co un s el co u ld b e, bu t w o u l d n o t al way s b e

req u i red by d u e pro ces s, 4 5 2 U

. S. at 3 1 (II) (C), t h e La s s i t er co u rt t u rn ed t o t h e fact s

o f i n d i v i d u al cas es

, p art i cu l arl y t h e ri s k of an erro neo u s t erm i n at i o n

, an d h el d t h at t h e

ri sk o f erro r is to b e ev al u at ed on a cas e-b y -cas e b as i s. “ [T] he d eci s i on wh et h er d u e

p ro ces s cal l s fo r t he ap p o i n t m en t o f co u n s el fo r in d i g en t p aren t s i n t erm i n at i o n

p ro ceed in g s [i s ] t o b e an s wered i n t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, s u b ject

, o f

co u rs e, t o ap p el l at e rev iew.” Id . at 3 2 (II) (C) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

3“ Nev ert hel es s

, b ecau s e ch i l d -cu s t o d y l i t ig at i o n m u s t be co n cl u d ed as rap i d l y

as i s co ns i s t en t wi t h fai rn es s ,” t he Su p rem e Co u rt wen t o n t o d eci d e “ wh et h er t h e t ri al

j u d g e d en i ed M s

. Las s i t er d u e p ro ces s o f law wh en h e di d n ot ap p o i n t co un s el f o r

h er.” 4 5 2 U. S. at 3 2 (III). T h e Co u rt n o t ed at t h e o u t s et o f i t s op i n i o n t h at a y ear aft er

h er ch i l d was t ak en

, “ M s

. L as s i t er was ch arg ed w i th fi rs t -d eg ree m u rd er, was

co n vi ct ed o f s ec o n d

- d e g r e e m u rd er, an d b eg an a sen t en ce o f 2 5 t o 4 0 y ears o f

i m p ri s o n m en t .” Id

. at 2 0 (I) (fo o t n o te o m i t ted ). It set o u t an an al y s i s o f t h e ev i d en ce

p res en t ed at t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari ng

, w h i ch i s q u ot ed i n t h e m arg in

, 1 an d fo u n d t h at

1 Th e Su p rem e Co u rt an al y zed t h e ev i den ce i n La s s i t er as fo l l o ws :

T h e res po n d en t rep res en t s t h at t h e p et i t i o n to t erm in at e M s

.

Las s i t er’ s p aren t al ri g ht s co n t ai n ed n o al l eg at i o n s o f n e g l ect o r ab u s e

u p o n wh ich cri m i n al ch arg es co u l d be b as ed

, an d h en ce M s

. Las s i t er

co u l d n ot w el l h av e arg u ed t h at s he req u i red co un s el fo r t h at reas o n

. T he

Dep art m en t o f So ci al Serv i ces was rep res en t e d a t t h e h eari n g b y

c o un s el

, b ut n o ex p ert w i t n es s es tes t i fi ed

, an d t h e cas e p res en t ed n o

s p eci al l y tro ub l es om e p oi n t s o f law, ei t her p ro ced u ral o r s u b s t an t i v e.

W h i l e hears ay ev i d en ce was n o t d ou b t ad m i tt ed

, an d wh i l e M s

. Las s i t er

n o d o u b t l eft i n co m

p l et e h er d ef

e n s e t h at t h e Dep art m en t h ad n o t

ad eq u at el y as s i s t ed h er in rek i n dl i n g h er i n t eres t in h er s o n, t h e wei g h t

o f t h e ev i den ce t h at s h e h ad few s p ark s o f s u c h a n i n teres t w as

s u ffi ci en t l y g reat th at t he p res en ce o f co u n s el fo r M s

. Las s i t er co u l d n o t

h av e m ad e a d et erm i n at i v e d i fferen ce. Tru e, a l awy er m i g h t h av e d o ne

4ev i d en ce su b s t an t i al en o u g h t h at t h e ab s en ce o f co u n s el d i d n o t ren d er t h e

p ro ceed in g s fu n d am en t al ly u n fai r. Id . at 3 2 -3 3 (III).

m o re wi t h t h e arg u m en t t h at W il l iam sh o ul d l i v e wi t h M s

. Las s i t er’ s

m o t h er

– b u t t h at arg u m en t was q ui t e ex p l ici t l y m ad e by b o t h Las s i t ers

,

an d t h e ev i d en ce t h at t h e el d er M s. Las s i t er h ad s ai d s he co ul d n o t

h an d l e an ot h er ch i l d, t h at t h e s o ci al wo rk er’ s i n ves t i g at i o n h ad l ed t o a

s i m i l ar co ncl u s i o n

, an d t hat th e g ran d m o t h er h a d d ispla y e d sc a nt i n t eres t

i n t h e ch i l d o n ce h e h ad b een rem o v ed fro m h er d au g h t er’ s cu s t o d y was

,

t h o u g h co n t ro v ert ed

, s u ffi ci en t l y s u bs t an t i al th at t h e ab s en ce o f

co u n s el ’ s g u i dan ce o n t h i s p o i n t d i d n o t re n d e r t h e p ro ceed i n g s

fu n d am en t al l y u n fai r. Fi n al l y

, a co u rt d eci d in g wh et h er d u e p ro ces s

req u ires t he ap p o i nt m en t o f co u n s el n eed n o t i g n o re a p aren t ’ s p l ai n

d em o ns trat io n t hat s h e i s n o t i n t eres t ed i n at t en d i n g a h eari n g

. Here, th e

t ri al co u rt h ad prev i ou s ly fo u n d t h at M s

. Las s i t er h ad ex p res s l y d ecl i n ed

t o ap p ear at t h e 1 97 5 ch il d cu s t o dy h eari n g

, Ms

. Las s i t er h ad n o t ev en

b o t h ered t o sp eak t o her ret ai n ed l awy er aft er b e i n g n o t i fi ed o f th e

t erm i n at io n h eari n g

, an d t h e co u rt s p eci fi cal l y fo u n d t hat M s

. Las s i t er’ s

fai l u re t o m ak e an effo rt t o co n t es t t he t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i ng w as

wi t h ou t cau s e. In vi ew o f al l t h es e ci rcu m st an ces

, we h o l d t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t err i n fai l i n g t o ap p oi n t co un s el fo r M s . Las s it er.

4 5 2 U. S

. at 3 2 -3 3 (III) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). Th e Co u rt ad d ed i n a fo ot n o t e, “ M s

. Las s i t er’ s arg u m en t h ere t h at h er m o t h er s ho u l d h av e b een g i v en cu s to d y o f W i l l i am

i s h ard ly co ns i s t en t wi t h h er arg u m en t i n t he co l l at eral at t ack o n h er m u rd er

co n vi ct i o n t hat s h e was i n n ocen t b ecau s e h er m o t her was gu i lt y .” Id

. at 3 3 n

. 8 (III)

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ).

5In o rd er t o ap p ly La ss i t er t o Geo rg i a t erm i nat i o n s o f p aren tal ri g h t s g en eral l y

,

we m u s t ad d res s t wo way s in wh i ch cu rren t Geo rg ia l aw d iffers fro m t h e No rt h

Caro l i n a l aw an al y zed i n La ss it er

. Fi rs t

, as t h e m ajo ri t y ack n owl ed g es

, Geo rg i a h as

es t ab l i s h ed a s t at u t o ry ri g h t t o ap p oi n t ed co u n s el i n t erm i n at i o n cas es

, fo rm er OCGA

§ 1 5-1 1- 9 8

, c u r ren t OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-2 6 2

, an d th at s t at u t o ry ri gh t h as b een

au t h o ri t at i v el y co n s t ru ed t o i n cl u d e ap pel l at e co u n s el

. N i x v. Dep t

. o

f Hu ma n

Res o u r ces

, 2 3 6 Ga. 79 4

, 7 95 -7 9 6 (2 2 5 SE2 d 3 0 6 ) (1 9 7 6 ). T h e d en ial o f ap p el l at e

co u ns el i n t h i s cas e w as in v i o l at i o n o f fo rm er OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -9 8. So t h at s t at u t e an d

i t s s u cces s o r ex t i n g u is h an y p ecu n i ary in t eres t o r i n t eres t i n i n fo rm al p ro ced u res t h at

t h e s t at e m i g h t o t h erwi s e h av e b een en t i t l ed t o as s ert

. Per fo rce th e s tat e can h av e n o

d u e p ro ces s i n t eres t i n an u n l awfu l d en i al o f a s t at ut o ry ri gh t

.

Seco n d

, t erm i n at i on s of p aren t al ri g h t s are n o w s u b ject t o o ur d i s cret i o n ary

a p peal pro ced u re. OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (a) (1 2). By su b j ect i ng t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al

ri gh t s t o t hat p ro ced u re

, Geo rg i a h as g reat l y i n creas ed “ t h e co m p l ex i t y o f t h e

p ro ceed in g .” La s s i ter , 4 5 2 U. S. at 3 1 (II) (C).

Th o s e feat u res o f G eo rg i a l aw co n s t i t u t e a s t ro n g arg u m en t fo r t he p ro p o s i t i o n

t h at

, u nd er La ss it er

, du e p ro ces s cat eg o ri cal ly m an d at es ap p o i n t m en t o f co u n s el fo r

al l ap p eal s fro m t erm i n at i on s o f p aren t al ri g ht s i n t h is s t at e. Bu t we need n o t d eci d e

6t h at i s s u e t o d ay

. Al t h o u g h u l t i m at e l y we a re n o t p ers u ad ed b y t h e arg u m en t s

p res en t ed b y t h e m o t h er’ s ap p el l at e co u n s el t h at th e t erm i n at i o n b efo re u s w as erro r,

n ev ert h el es s t h o s e arg u m en t s were s u b s t an t ial

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t hi s i s a cas e i n wh i ch

– ap pl y i n g s et t led l aw han d ed d o wn b y t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t he U n i t ed St at es

– we

m u st fi n d a d u e p ro ces s v i o l at io n co n cern i n g t h i s ap p eal an d i n wh ich we t h erefo re

h av e b o t h t h e au th o ri t y an d th e d u t y to “ ex cu se co m pl i an c e w i t h [t h e] st at u t o ry

req u i rem en t fo r [d i s cret i o n ary ] ap p eal [s ]

. ” Ga b l e v. St a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 8 1, 8 5 (2 ) (b ) (7 2 0

SE2 d 1 7 0) (2 0 1 1).

7A1 4 A1 53 6 . IN THE INTEREST OF B. R. F., a ch i ld

.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e, d i s s en t i n g

.

Becau s e I b el i ev e t hat t h i s Co urt l ack s ju ri s d i ct i o n t o co n s i d er th e m o t h er’ s

o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal , I m

u s t res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t.

As t he m ajo ri t y co rrect l y n o t es

, ap p l icat i o n s fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal m u s t b e

fi led wi th i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h e en t ry of t h e o rd er b ei n g ap p eal ed

. OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (d ).

A n d a p art y ’ s fai l u re t o m eet t h i s s tat u t ory d ead l i n e d ep ri v es us o f ju ri s d i ct i o n t o

co n si d er t h e ap p li cat i o n

. W il s o n v. Ca r ver

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 4 (5 5 5 SE2 d 8 48 ) (2 0 0 1 ),

o v erru l ed i n p art o n o t h er g ro u n d s i n Ga b le v. S t at e

, 2 9 0 G a. 8 1

, 8 5 (7 2 0 SE2 d 1 7 0 )

(2 0 1 1). Th i s Co u rt h as l o n g hel d t h at a tri al co u rt l ack s au t h o ri t y t o ex ten d t h e t i m efo r fi l i n g a d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal

. Ro s en s t ei n v. Jen ki n s

, 1 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 85 (3 0 4 SE2 d

7 4 0 ) (1 9 8 3 ), o v erru l ed i n part o n o t h er g ro un d s i n Ga b l e

, 2 90 Ga. at 85

. An d we m o re

recen t l y h el d t hat a t ri al co u rt has n o au t h o ri t y t o g ran t an o u t -o f-t i m e d i s cret i o n ary

ap p li cat io n fro m t h e t erm i nat i o n o f p aren t al ri gh t s

. In t he In t er es t o f S

. M. B.

, 3 1 9 Ga.

Ap p . 1 2 5 (7 3 5 SE2 d 1 2 2) (2 0 1 2 ). Becau s e t h e an al y s i s in In t h e In t er es t o f S

. M. B.

d o es n o t d i s t i n g u is h b et ween t h e au t ho ri t y o f t ri al co urt s an d ap p el l at e co u rt s t o g ran t

an o ut -o f-t i m e a p pl icat i o n u nd er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, I b el i ev e t h at t h i s Co u rt

l i kewi s e d o es n o t h a v e t h e a u t h o ri t y t o gran t an ou t -o f-t i m e ap p l i cat io n fo r a

d i s cret i o n ary

ap peal ev en i n a p aren t al ri g h t s t erm i n at i o n cas e.

Th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co urt has hel d th at t h e r e i s n o f ed eral

co n st i t u t io n al ri g h t t o co u n s el i n a p aren t al ri g h t s t erm i n at i o n cas e, an d t h e m o t h er

d o es n ot co n t en d ot herwi s e. La s s i t er v. Dep t

. o f S o ci a l S vcs

. o f D u r h a m Co u n t

y

, 4 5 2

U.S. 1 8 (1 0 1 SCt 2 1 5 3, 68 LE2 d 6 4 0 ) (1 9 8 1 ). No n et h el es s, I ag ree w it h t h e m ajo ri t y

t h at an i nd i g en t p aren t h as a st at u t o ry ri g h t t o t h e ap p o i n t m en t o f co u n s el t o ap p eal

an ord er t erm i n at in g hi s o r h er p a r e n t al ri g h t s p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2 (a). 1

It b ears e m

p h as i s

, ho wev er, t h at t h i s ri gh t t o co u n sel i n t erm i n at io n p ro ceed i n gs i s

1 See al so fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 8

, w h i ch was i n effect a t t h e ti m e o f t h e

t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g i n t hi s cas e.

2s t at u to ry

, rat h er th an co n s t i t u ti o n al

. See Del l v. Del l

, 3 2 4 G a. A p p

. 2 97

, 3 0 2 (2 ) (7 4 8

SE2 d 7 0 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ); In t h e In t er es t o f A. M. R

., 2 30 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 3

, 1 3 6 (2 ) (4 9 5 SE2 d

6 1 5 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ N o st at e o r fed eral co n s t i t u t io n al ri g h t t o co u n s el i s i n v o l v ed b ecau s e

a p aren t al t erm i n at i o n act i o n i s a ci v i l m at t er, n o t a c r i m i n al p ro ceed i n g .”); In t h e

In t er es t o f Z. K.

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 0

, 1 5 0 (6 4 5 SE2 d 63 7 ) (2 00 7 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t

o n l y ), ov erru l ed i n p art o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, In r e J. M. B.

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 86 (6 7 6 SE2 d

9 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

Th u s

, t h e q u es t i o n beco m es wh et h er t h e fai lu re t o p ro v i d e s t at u to ri l y req u i red

co u ns el t o t h e m ot her fo l l o wi n g th e t erm i n a t i o n p ro ceed i n g gi ves u s au th o ri t y to

g ran t h er o u t -o f-t i m e di scret i o n ary ap p l i cat i o n

. I n Ga b le, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

ad d res s ed a s i m i l ar q u es t i on o f wh et h er a t ri al co u rt h as t h e au t h o ri t y t o g ran t an o u t

o f-t im e d i s cret i on ary ap p eal fro m t he d en i al o f an ex trao rd i nary m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al

i n a c ri m i n al cas e wh ere co un s el fai l ed t o ti m el y fi le a d is cret i o n ary ap p l i cat i o n.

Ga b l e, 29 0 Ga. at 8 2 (1 ). Th e Co u rt fi rs t co n s id ered th at co urt s m ay g ran t ex t en s i on s

o f t i m e fo r fi l i n g n o t i ces o f ap p eal an d o t h er s i m il ar p a p ers by s t at u t e, an d

co n seq u en t l y fo un d t h at t h i s Co u rt h ad t h e au t h o ri ty t o g ran t an ex t en si o n o f t i m e to

fi le a d i s cret i o n ary ap p l i cat i o n s o l o n g as th e ex t en si o n req u es t i s t i m el y fi l ed

. Id

. at

8 4 -8 5 (2 ). Bu t t h e Su p rem e Co u rt em p h as i zed t h at ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e n o au t h o ri t y

3t o creat e eq u i t ab l e ex cep t i o n s t o ju ri s d i ct i o n al req u irem en ts i m p o s ed b y s t at u t e, an d

t h u s

, “ Geo rg i a co u rt s m ay ex cu se co m p l i an ce wi t h a s t at u t o ry req u i rem en t fo r ap p eal

o n l y wh ere n eces sary t o av o id o r rem ed y a co n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o lat i o n co ncer n i n g t h e

a p p ea l .” (Em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Id . at 8 5 (2 ).

An d wh il e I ag ree t hat “ p aren t s h av e a fu nd am en t al l i b ert y i n t eres t i n t h e care,

cu s t o d y

, an d m an ag em en t o f t h ei r ch i l d ren ” 2 an d are cert ai n l y g u aran t eed d u e p ro ces s

i n t h e co n t ex t o f t he t ri al co urt ’ s t erm i n at io n p ro ceed in gs

, t h ere i s no co rres p o n d i n g

co n st i t u t io n al ri g h t t o a di rect ap p eal o f t h e t erm i n at i o n

. W h en t h e G en eral As s em b l y

en act ed OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (a) (1 2 ), wh i ch t o o k effect o n J an u ary 1

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e p ro ced u re

fo r ap peal s fro m o rd e rs term in at i n g p aren t al ri g h ts was ch an g ed fro m d i rect to

d i s cret i o n ary

. See In t h e In t e r e s t o f A. C.

, 2 8 5 G a. 8 2 9

, 8 3 2 (1 ) (6 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 5 )

(2 0 0 9) (fi n di n g th e s t at u t e d o es n o t v i o l at e a p aren t ’ s eq u al pro t ect io n ri g ht s ). Sh o rt l y

t h ereaft er, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt up h el d t h e ch an g e i n p ro ced u re as co n s t i t u t io n al an d

n o t i n v i o l at i on o f t h e p aren t s’ d u e p ro ces s ri g h ts , fi n d in g t h at

2 Cl a r k v. W ad e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 5 8 7

, 5 9 3 ( 5 4 4 SE2 d 9 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ). See al s o In t h e

In t er es t o f C. J. V.

, 32 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 3

, 2 8 3 (7 4 6 SE2 d 7 8 3 ) ( 2 0 1 3 ) ( “ t h e r e i s n o

ju d i ci al d et erm i n at i o n w h ich h as m ore d ras t i c s i g n i fi can ce t h an t h at o f perm an en t l y

s ev eri n g a n at u ral p aren t-ch i l d rel at i o n s h ip ”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

4i t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at i f a fu ll an d fai r t ri al o n t h e m eri t s i s p ro vi ded

, th e

Du e Pro c e s s C l au s e o f th e Fo u rt een t h Am en d m en t d oes n o t req u i re a

St at e t o p ro v i d e ap pel l at e rev i ew,

. . . ev en i n t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al

ri gh ts cas es

. In d eed

, t h ere i s n o ri g h t t o ap p eal g ran t ed b y ei t h er th e

St at e o r Fed eral Co n s t i t u t i o n s t o ci v i l l i t i gan t s o r t o t h e d efen d an t o r th e

St at e i n cri m i n al cas es

.

In t h e In t er es t of N. A. U. E.

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 9 7, 79 7 (7 0 0 SE2 d 3 9 3) (2 0 1 0 ). A n d rel y i n g

o n o u r Su p rem e Co urt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Ga b le

, t h i s Co u r t h a s p rev i o u sl y h el d t h at

b ecau s e t h e fat h er d i d n ot h av e a co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g ht t o fi le a fi rs t ap peal fo l l o wi n g

t h e t erm i n at i o n o f hi s p aren t al ri g h t s, n o o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal was av ai l ab l e ev en wh ere

t h e fat her al l eg ed t h at h is co un s el dep ri v ed h i m o f t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o t i m el y fi l e h i s

d i s cret i o n ary ap p l i cat i on

. In t h e In t er es t of S

. M. B

. , 31 9 G a

. A p p

. at 1 2 7; s ee al s o

Ga b l e

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 8 6 (2 ) (“ T h ere i s n o co n s t it u ti o n al ri g h t t o co u n sel

, m u ch l es s t h e

effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, i n fi l i n g o r l i t i g at i n g a p o s t -co n v i ct i o n ex t rao rd i n ary

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al o r a d i s cret i o n ary ap p l i c a t i o n t o ap p eal t h e ru li n g o n s u ch a

m o ti o n

. ”).

If a paren t h as n o co n s t i t u t i o n al o r s t at u t o ry ri g h t t o a d i rect ap p eal fo l l o wi n g

t h e t erm in at i o n o f h is o r her p aren t al ri g ht s

, an d i f a p aren t h as n o co n s t i t u t i on al ri g ht

t o co u n s el i n a p a r e nt al ri g h t s t erm i n at i on cas e, I fai l t o s ee h ow, as t h e m ajo ri t y

5i n s i s ts

, a p aren t n o n et h el es s h as a co n s t i t u t io n al ri g ht t o an at t o rn ey to fi l e a

d i s cret i o n ary ap p li cat i o n o n h is o r h er b eh al f. I b el i ev e t he m ajo ri t y ’ s ho l d i n g i s at

o d d s wi t h es t ab li s h ed p reced en t t h at we h av e n o au t h o r i t y t o g ran t an o u t -o f-t i m e

ap p eal ev en wh ere t he ap p el l an t ’ s at t orn ey w as in effect i v e in fai l i n g t o t i m el y fi l e t h e

ap p li cat io n

. See Ga b l e

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 8 2; In t h e In t er es t o f S

. M

. B.

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p. at 1 2 8.

Th u s , al th o u g h I s y m

p at h i ze wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s p o s i ti o n t h at i t i s a v i o l at i o n

o f d u e p ro ces s fo r “ an i nd ig en t p ers on wh o des i red ap p el lat e rev i ew o f t h e d eci s i o n

t erm i n at i n g her paren t al ri gh t s [t o be] fo rced (d u e t o t h e i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f h er

t ri al co u n s el ) t o p u rs u e h er o n e an d o n l y fi rs t ri gh t o f ap p el l at e rev i ew (an d a p o s s i b l e

fu l l ap p eal ) wi t h o u t an at t o rn ey ,” t h e Un it ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at t h ere

i s no cat eg o ri cal ri g h t t o co u n s el i n a p aren t al ri gh t s term i n at i o n cas e u n der t h e d u e

p ro ces s cl au se o f t h e fed eral Co n s t i t u ti o n

. La s s i t er

, 4 52 U.S. at 3 1 (II) (C); s ee al s o

M i l l er v. Dea l

, 29 5 Ga. 5 0 4

, 5 0 9 (2 ) (7 61 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (2 01 4 ) (u nd er La s si t er

, “ n o

cat eg o ri cal ri g ht t o ap po i n t ed co u n s el i n p ro ceed in g s to t erm i nat e paren t al ri g h t s ”).

An d ou r Su p rem e Co u rt has n o t co n s t ru ed ou r St at e’ s Co n s t i t u t i on in t h at way

. Th u s

,

i t i s ou t s i d e t h i s Co u rt ’s ju ri s d i ct i o n t o fi n d s u ch a du e pro ces s ri g h t i n t h e fi rs t

i n s t an ce. See Ci ty o

f Deca tu r v. DeKa l b Co u n t y

, 2 8 4 Ga. 4 3 4

, 43 7 ( 2 ) ( 6 68 SE2 d

2 4 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ Becau s e [t h e Su p rem e C o u rt of G eo rg i a] has ex cl u s i ve ap p el l at e

6ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er cas es i nv o l v i n g t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f th e s t at e co n s ti t ut i o n

, t h e Co u rt

o f Ap peal s erred wh en i t co n s t ru ed t h e co n s t i t u t io n al p ro vi s i o n .”).

I am

, t h o u gh

, d eep l y t ro u b l ed t h at t h e m ot h er, wh o w as h ers el f b arel y an ad u l t

at t h e t i m e o f t he term i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g s

, was erro n eo u s l y t o l d b y h er t ri al co u n s el

t h a t s h e d i d n o t h av e t h e ri g ht t o ap p o in t ed co un s el o n ap p eal

. 3 An d al th o ug h I am

co m p el l ed t o fi nd t h at s h e has n o co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t t o co u n sel o n ap p eal bas ed u p o n

t h e st at e o f Geo rg i a law a s i t cu rren t l y ex i s t s

, I no n et h el es s ech o th e Un i t ed St at es

Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s sen ti m en t s th at “ [a] wi se p u b l i c p ol icy

, ho wev er, m ay req u i re t h at

h i g h er s tan d ard s b e ad op t ed t h an t ho s e m i ni m al l y t o l erab l e u n d er t h e Co n s t i t u t i o n.”

La s si t er

, 4 5 2 U.S. a t 3 3

. Th o s e co ns i d erat i o n s

, h owev er, are b es t left fo r o u r

l eg i s lat u re’ s d et erm i n at i o n

.

Becau s e I b el i ev e t h at th i s Co u rt h as n o au th o ri t y t o gran t t he m o t her’ s o u t -o ft i m e d i s cret i on ary ap p l i cat i o n fro m t h e t erm i n at i o n o f h er pa r e ntal ri g h t s

, I wo u l d fi n d

t h at h e r ap p l i cat i o n was i m p ro v i d en tl y g ran t ed an d t h at h er ap peal sh o u l d b e

d i s m i s s ed

.

3 No r d i d t h e ju v en i le co u rt ap p o i n t h er ap p el l at e co u n s el o n ce h er t ri al co u n s el

i n fo rm ed t h e co urt t h a t h i s co n t ract wi t h t h e p u b l i c d efen d ers o ffi ce d i d n ot

en co m p as s ap p el l at e wo rk

.

72

. Bas ed on m y co n cl us i o n t h at t h i s C o u r t l a ck s ju ri s d i ct i o n t o ad d res s t h e

m eri t s of t hi s cas e, I d o no t reach th e m ot h er’ s rem ai n i n g en u m erat io n s o f erro r,

wh i ch are ad d res s ed i n Di v is i on 2 o f t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s o pi n i o n

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at Pres i d i n g J u d g e An d rews jo i n s i n t hi s d i s s en t

.

8