FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J, and BOGGS, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Septem ber 22, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 78 2 . IN THE INTEREST OF C. J . V., et al ., ch i l dren

. DO-0 3 7

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

W e g ran t ed t h e m o t h er’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary rev i ew o f a t ri al co u rt

o rd er t erm i n at i n g h er p aren t al ri g h ts t o ei g h t-y ear-o l d C. J

. V. an d s i x -y ear-o l d F. N.

R. Aft er a t h o ro u g h co n si d erat i o n of t h i s cas e, in cl u d i n g o u r rev i ew o f t h e tran s cri pt

o f t h e term i n at i o n h eari n g , w h ich t ran s cri p t was n o t av ai l ab l e at th e ti m e we g ran t ed

t h e m o th er’ s ap p li cat i o n , we h av e d et erm i ned t h at t h e ju ven i l e co u r t ’s o r d er was

s u p p ort ed b y cl ear an d co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce. 1 Acco rd i n g l y , we fi n d t h at t h e

ap p li cat io n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal was i m p ro v i d en t ly

g ran t ed , an d we d i s m i s s t h e

m o th er’ s ap p eal

.

1 See OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 0 3 (“ In al l p ro ceed i n g s u n d er t h i s art i cl e, th e s t an d ard

o f p ro o f t o b e ad d u ced t o t erm i n at e p aren t al ri g h ts s h al l b e b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce.”).Th i s i s t h e s eco n d t i m e we h av e rev i ewed an o rd er t erm i n at i n g t h i s m o t h er’ s

p aren t al ri g h ts

. In In t h e In t er es t o f C. J. V.

, 2 a m ajo r i t y o f t h i s Co u rt rev ers ed t h e

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

i m p ro p erl y t erm i n at ed t h e m ot h er’ s p aren t al ri g h ts b as e d s o l el y up o n h er p o v ert y

. 3

Th e ev i d en ce b efo re t h i s Co u rt at t h at ti m e s ho wed t h at t h e m o t h er was u n em p l o y ed

,

freq uen t l y m o v ed

, an d w a s a t t i m es d ep en d en t u p o n o t h ers fo r fi n an ci al s u p p o rt

. 4

Bas ed u p o n t h e m o t h er’ s s h o rt co m i n gs , t h e ju v en i l e co u rt t erm i n at ed h er p aren t al

ri g h t s

. 5 W e rev ers ed o n ap p eal

, fi n d i n g t hat t h e m o t h er h ad co m p l et ed t h e m ajo ri t y

o f h er cas e p lan g o al s , s ecu red em p l o y m en t

, an d m ad e t w o ch i l d s u p p ort p ay m en t s

t o t al i n g $ 7 0 0

. 6 W e fu rt h er no t ed t h e ab s en ce o f “ ev i d en ce of a v eri fi ab le m en t al o r

p h y s i cal co n d i t i o n t h at i nd i cat es t h e m o t h er i s i n cap ab l e o f cari ng fo r th e ch i l d ren

. ” 7

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

3 See i d . at 2 8 6 -2 8 8

.

4 See i d . at 2 8 4 -2 8 5

.

5 See i d . at 2 8 5

.

6 See i d . at 2 8 4 -2 8 5

.

7 Id . at 2 8 7

.

2Un d er t h e fact s p res en t ed

, we co n cl u d ed th at t h e m o th er’ s fai lu re to fu l l y co m p l y wi th

h er cas e p l an s t em m ed l arg el y fro m h er rel at iv e p o v ert y

. 8

Fo l l owi n g t h i s Co u rt ’ s rev ers al

, o n J ul y 2 3, 2 0 1 3

, t h e D ep a r t m en t of Fam i l y

an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces (“ t h e Dep art m en t ”) fi led a d ep ri v at i o n p et it i o n al l eg in g t h at ( 1)

t h e m o t h er was wi th o u t i n co m e, (2 ) s h e t es ted p o s it i ve fo r m et ham p h et am i n e, an d (3 )

s h e an d th e ch i l d ren were l i vi n g i n h er fat h er’ s two -b ed ro o m t rai ler w i t h i n ad eq u at e

s p ace fo r t h e ch i ld ren

. T h at pet i t i o n was d i s m i ss ed

, h o wev er, aft er i t was d et erm i n ed

t h at t he d ru g t es t w as a fal s e p o s i t i v e an d t hat t h ere was s u ffi ci en t s p ace fo r t h e

ch i l d ren i n t h e t rai l er.

On Sep t em

b er 2 0

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e Dep art m en t fi l ed an o t her d ep ri v at i o n p et i t i o n.

Fo l l o wi ng a h eari ng , t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered an ord er fi n d i n g t h e ch i ld ren d ep ri v ed

an d p laced t h em i n t h e cu st o dy o f th e Dep art m en t

. On N o v em b er 8, 20 1 3

, t h e co u rt

en t ered a cas e pl an req u i ri n g t h e m o t h er t o m ai n t ai n s t ab l e h o us i n g an d i n co m e fo r

s i x m o n t h s ; p ay ch i l d s u pp o rt ; co m p l et e an i n -p ers o n p aren t n u rt uri n g p ro g ram ; an d

u n d erg o d ru g an d al co h ol as s es s m en t an d co m p l e t e an y res ul t i n g reco m m en d ed

t reat m en t

. On Feb ru ary 2 6

, 2 01 4

, t h e Dep art m en t fi l e d a p et i ti o n t o t erm i n at e t h e

m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g ht s

.

8 See i d . at 2 8 6 -2 8 7

.

3At t h e fi n al h eari n g h el d i n M ay 2 0 1 4, th e Dep art m en t p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o ny

o f th e ch i l d ren ’ s fo s t er m o t h er, wh o , al o ng wi t h h er h u sb an d

, h ad c a r e d f o r t h e

ch i l d ren si n ce J u l y 2 0 1 1

. Th e fo s t er m o t h er t es t ifi ed t h at t h e ch i l d ren vi s i t ed wi t h t h e

m o th er i n Sep tem

b er 2 0 12 an d t h en n o t ag ai n u n t i l Au g u s t 2 0 1 3 . Th e s am e d ay t h e

ch i l d ren were ret u rn ed to t h ei r m o t her, s h e cal l ed th e fo s t er p aren ts ’ h o m e s i x t o ei g ht

t i m es , an d wi t h in t wen t y -fo u r h o u rs , t h e m o t h er ret u rn ed t h e ch il d ren t o t h e f o s t er

p aren t s , o fferi n g an arran g em en t wh erei n th e bo y s wo u l d l i v e wi t h t h e fo s t er p aren t s

an d t h at sh e w o u l d vi s it t h em

. Th e fo s t er m o t h er ag reed

, b ut lat er b ecam e co n cern ed

ab o ut t h e m o t h er ex erci s i n g v i si t at i o n b ecau s e th e ch i l d ren w ere “ to t al [l y ] d i fferen t ”

aft er t h e i r b r i e f v i s i t wi t h t h e m o t h er. C. J

. V. b ecam e s cared

, refu sed t o u s e t h e

res t r o o m a l o n e, h ad t wo acci d en t s at s ch o o l

, req ui red a n i g h t l i g h t

, an d d i s p l ay ed

ag g res s i o n ; F. N. R. b eg an wet t i n g t h e b ed an d h ad n i g ht t erro rs

.

B r i t t a n Ho rd

, t he Dep art m en t s u p erv i s o r as si gn ed t o t he ch i ld ren s ’ cas e

t es t i fi ed t h at o n t h e d ay i n 2 0 13 wh en th e ch i l d ren were ret u rn ed to t h ei r m o t h er, t h e

ch i l d ren were ex t rem el y u p s et an d b eg g i n g t o ret urn t o t h e fo s t er p aren t s’ h o m e. Th e

m o th er was t w o h o u rs l at e to g et t h e ch i l d ren , at wh i ch t i m e t h e y h ad al read y b een

ret u rn ed t o t h e fo s t er paren t s

. Ho rd ret ri ev ed t h em fro m t h e fo s t er p aren t s’ h om e, an d

t h ey h ad t o b e ph y s i cal l y p l aced i n t h e car. Th e m o t h er rep o rt ed t h at s h e was t ak i n g

4t h e ch il d ren t o h er fat h er’ s h o m e, wh ere s h e l i v ed

. Th e m o t h er h ad p re v i o u s l y

rep o rt ed t h at her fat h er h ad been p h y s i cal ly an d v erb al l y ab us i v e t o h er fo r h er en t i re

l i fe, an d l aw en fo rcem en t was reg ul arl y cal l ed t o t h e h o m e

. Ho rd al s o t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e m o t h er h ad n o t s ecu red s t ab l e i n d ep en d en t h ou s in g fo r s i x m o nt h s o r l o n g er s i nce

2 0 1 1

, an d s h e fai l ed t o co n s i st en t l y s u p p o rt th e c h i l d r e n d u ri n g t h at t i m e. Bet ween

Au g u s t 2 0 1 3 an d t h e M ay 2 0 14 fi n al h eari n g, t h e m o th er l i v ed i n t h ree d i fferen t

p l aces : wi t h her fat her; wi t h h er fo rm er g i rl fri en d ; an d wi t h h er m o t h er an d m o t h er’ s

b o y fri en d

. Th e m o t h er d i d n o t h av e a j o b

, b u t ex p ect ed t o recei v e d i sab i l i t y , al t h o u g h

s h e was u n ab l e t o ex p l ai n t h e b as i s o f h er d i s ab i l i t y

.

Th e m o t her’ s p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t i fi ed th at t h e m ot h er’ s o v eral l IQ i s 5 7 ; s h e d o es

n o t u n d ers t an d co m

p l ex s en t en ces or co n cep t s; s he read s at a s eco nd g rad e l ev el an d

h er s en t en ce co m

p reh en s i o n i s at a fi rs t grad e l ev el ; s h e h as d i ffi cu lt y co m p reh en d i n g

m ed i cal o r acad em i c i n s t ru ct i o n s reg ar d i n g t h e ch i l d ren ; s h e is u n ab l e t o p ro v i d e

em ot i o n al s t ab i l it y

an d s u p p ort fo r h er ch i l d ren ; s h e i s u n ab l e t o p ercei v e p ro b l em s

wi t h h er ch i l d ren ; s h e i s p ro n e to u n co n tro l led an g er react i o n s ; s he h as lo w em p at h y ;

t h e ch i l dren wi l l s oo n p as s h er d e v e l o p m e n t al l y ; s h e is u n ab l e t o p ro v id e fo o d,

s h el t er, cl o t h i n g , or ed u cat io n fo r h er ch i l d ren ; an d sh e fu n c t i o n s a t t h e l ev el o f an

ei g h t -y ear-o l d

.

5Bas ed up o n t h e ev i d en ce p res en ted

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ag ai n en t ered an o rd er

t erm i n at i n g t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s

. Th e co u rt n o t ed th at b o t h t h e Co u rt

Ap p o i n t ed Sp eci al A d vo cat e an d t h e Gu ard i an Ad Li t em reco m m en ded term i n at i o n,

an d i t n o ted t h at “ [t ] h e ch i l d ren are i n a fo s t er t o ad o p t h o m e wh ere t h ey h av e b een

fo r n earl y t h ree y ears [an d] are d o in g v e r y w e l l

. ” I n th e term i n at i o n ord er, t h e t ri al

co u rt s t at ed :

W h en t h e co u rt en t ered th e m o s t recen t ad ju d i cat o ry

o rd er, t h e m o t h er

s t at ed t h at sh e wan t ed m o re t i m e t o co m pl et e h e r cas e p l an an d g ai n

s t ab il i t y t o b e ab l e t o p ro v i d e fo r h er ch i l d ren . To d ay s h e t es t i fi ed t hat

s h e wan t s m o re ti m e. It h as b een t w o y ears [an d ] t en m on t h s s i n ce t hes e

ch i l d ren fi rs t en t ered care. It i s u n fo rt u nat e t h a t a l t h o u g h i t i s o b v i o u s

t h e m ot h er l o v es her ch i l d ren , s h e i s s i m p l y n o t cap ab l e o f m ai nt ai n i n g

t h e s t ab i l i ty t o p ro v i de fo r th em

. Th e res ul t s o f her p sy ch o lo g i ca l

ev al uat io n, co m

bi n ed w i t h her rep eat ed b ad d eci s io n s , m ak e i t p at en t l y

o b v i o u s t h at s h e i s i n cap ab l e.

. . . Si m p l y p u t, t h is m o t h er i s n o t cap ab l e

o f u n d ers t an d i ng wh at i t i s s h e need s t o d o t o p ro v i d e e v e n th e b as i c

n eces s i ti es fo r t h es e ch i l dren

, let al o n e m eet t h ei r em o ti o n al

, ed u cat i on al

, an d so ci al need s

. It i s s a d

, b u t a fact t h at s he i s o f l o w IQ

an d fu n ct i on s o n t h e lev el o f an ei g ht y ear o l d ch i l d

, wh i ch

, i n th e

o p i n i o n o f an ex p ert [

, ] ren d ers her i n cap ab le o f p aren ti n g ch i ld ren

. M ean wh i l e, th e c h i l d r e n , ag es fi v e an d s ev en , hav e b een req ui red t o

rem ai n i n care fo r n earl y t h ree y ears

. [F. N. R.] was ju s t o v er t wo y ears

o f ag e wh en h e was rem o v ed fro m h i s m o t h er’ s h o m e. He i s n o w fi ve

y ears [an d ] fi v e m o n t h s o f ag e. . . . Th e co urt has b een u n ab le t o al l o w

6t h e m o t her ev en s u p erv i s ed v i s i t at i o n s b ecau s e a ny co n t act wi t h t h ei r

m o t h er i s s o d et ri m en t al t o t h e ch i l d ren ’ s wel l -b ei n g an d b eh av i o r.

Fo l l o wi ng en try o f t h e o rd er, th e m o t h er fi l ed an ap pl i cat io n fo r di s cret i on ary ap p eal

,

wh i ch t h i s Co u rt g ran t ed

.

1

. Th e m o t h er arg ues t h at t h e r e was i n s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t h e

t erm i n at i o n

. W e di s ag ree. T h e ev i d en ce ad d u ced at t h e h eari n g fo l l owi n g o u r rev ers al

o f t he fi r s t t e rm i n at i on o rd er s u p p o rt s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. A n y st ri d es t h at t h e

m o th er h ad m ad e pert ai n i n g t o h er cas e p l an were t em p o rary

. Aft er m ak i n g two ch i ld

s u p p ort p ay m en t s , t h e m o t h er h as p ai d no ad d it i o n al s u p po rt

, an d s h e fai l ed t o s ecu re

s t ab l e h o u s i n g

. Al t h o u g h t h e m o t h er reg ai ned cu st od y o f h er ch i l d ren , s h e ret u rn ed

t h em 1 2 ho u rs l at er an d s u g g es t ed t h at th ey l iv e wi t h t h e fo s ter p aren ts

. Fi n al l y , t h e

m o th er’ s m en t al l i m i t at i o ns p recl u d e h er fro m s u ccessf ully pa r e nting h e r c hi l d ren

. Al l

o f t h es e fact s s u p p ort t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er t erm i nat i n g t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al

ri gh t s. 9

9 See OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -3 1 0 (“ (a) In co n s i d eri n g th e t erm i n at i on o f p aren t al

ri gh t s, t h e co urt s h al l fi rs t d et erm i n e wh et h er on e o f t he fo l l owi n g s t at u t o ry g ro u nd s fo r t erm i n at i o n of paren t al ri g h t s h a s b e en m et : (1 ) Th e p aren t h as g i v en wri t t en

co n sen t t o t erm i nat i o n w h ich h as b een ack no wl ed g ed b y t h e co u rt or has v o l u n t ari l y

s u rren d ered

. . . h er ch i l d fo r ad o p t i o n ; (2 ) Th e p aren t h as s u b ject ed

. . . h er ch i l d to

ag g rav at ed ci rcu m s t an ces ; (3 ) Th e paren t h as wan t o nl y an d wi l l fu l l y fai l ed t o co m p l y fo r a p eri o d o f 1 2 m o n t h s o r l o n g er wi t h a dec r e e t o s u pp o rt

. . . her ch i l d t h at h as

72

. Th e m o t h er al s o co n t en d s th at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s t erm i n at i o n is “ i n s u ffi ci en t ”

b ecau s e it fai led t o fi n d t h at t h e ch i l d ren were d ep en d en t as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -3 10 (a) an d OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 2 0 (a). W e fi n d n o b as is fo r rev ers al

.

In 2 0 1 3, t he G en eral As s em bl y am en d ed Ti t l e 1 5 o f t h e Geo rg i a

Co d e “ so as t o s u b s t an ti al l y rev i se, s u p ers ed e, an d m o d ern ize p ro v i s i o n s

rel at in g t o ju v en i l e p ro ceed i n g s an d en act co m preh en s i v e ju v en i l e ju s t i ce refo rm s reco m

m en d ed b y t h e Go v ern o r’ s Sp eci al Co u n ci l o n

J u s t ice Refo rm in Geo rg i a.” G a. Laws 20 1 3

, Act 12 7

. An d as part of t hat

s t at u t o ry o verh au l

, th e Gen eral A s s em b l y am en d ed t h e d efi ni t i o n s

ap p l icab l e to ju v en i l e p ro ceed i n g s. See Ga. Laws 2 0 13

, Act 1 2 7, § 1 -1 ;

s ee al s o OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 (co d i fi cat io n o f n ew d efi ni t i o n s fo r ju v en i l e

p ro ceed i n g s ). E ffect i ve Jan u ary 1

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e new d efi n it i o n s co n t ai n ed

b een en t ered by a co u rt o f co m p et en t ju ri sd i ct i o n o f th i s o r an y o th er s tat e; (4 ) A ch i ld

i s ab an d on ed by h i s

. . . p aren t ; o r (5 ) A ch i ld i s a d e p e n d e n t c h i l d d u e t o l ack o f

p ro p er p aren tal care o r co n t ro l b y h i s

. . . p aren t

, reas on ab l e effo rt s t o rem ed y t h e ci rcu m s t an ce s h a v e b een u n s u cces sfu l o r were n ot req u i red

, s u ch cau s e o f
d ep en d en cy i s l i k el y t o co n t i n u e o r wi l l n o t l i k el y b e rem ed i ed

, an d t h e co n t i n u ed
d ep en d en cy wi l l cau s e o r i s li k el y t o cau s e s eri o u s p hy s i cal

, m en t al

, e m o t i o n al

, o r

m o ral h arm t o su ch ch i ld

. (b ) If an y o f t h e s t at u t o ry g ro un d s fo r t erm i nat i o n h as b een

m et

, t h e co u rt s hal l t h en co n s i d er wh et h er t erm i n at i o n i s i n a c h i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s aft er c o n s i d eri n g t h e fo l lo wi n g fact o rs : (1 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s s en s e o f at t ach m en t s , i n cl u d i n g h i s

. . . s en s e o f s ecu ri t y an d fam i l i ari t y , an d t h e co n t i n ui t y o f affect i o n fo r

s u ch ch i ld ; (2 ) Su ch ch il d ’ s w is h es an d l o n g -t erm g o al s ; (3 ) Su ch ch i ld ’ s n e e d f o r

p erm an en ce, i n cl u d i n g h i s

. . . n eed fo r s tab i l i t y an d co n t i n ui t y o f rel at i o ns h i p s wi th

a paren t

, s i bl i n g s, an d o t h er rel at i v es ; an d (4 ) An y o t h er fact o rs , i n cl u d i n g t h e fact o rs

s et fo rt h in [OCGA §] 1 5 -1 1-2 6, co n s i d ered by t he co u rt t o b e rel ev an t an d p ro p er to
i t s d et erm i n at i on

. . . .”). See al so In t h e In t er es t o f T. A.

, 3 31 Ga. Ap p

. 92

, 9 7 (2 ) (7 6 9

SE2 d 7 9 7) (2 0 1 5) (ap p l y i ng fo rm er OCGA § § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 & 1 5-1 1 -2 (8 ) (A)).

8i n OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 b eca m e a p p l i cab l e t o ju v en i l e p ro ceed i n g s

co m m en ced o n an d aft er t h at dat e. Ga. Laws 2 01 3

, A ct 1 27

, § 5 -1 (“ T h i s

Act s h al l b eco m e effect i v e o n J an u ary 1

, 2 0 14

, an d s h al l a p p l y t o al l

o ffen s es wh i ch o ccu r an d ju v en i l e p ro ceed i ng s co m m en ced o n an d aft er

s u c h d at e.”). Th e fo rm er d efi n i t i o n s u s ed t h e t erm “ d ep ri v ed ” t o m ean

a ch i l d wh o was “ wi t h o ut p ro p er p aren t al care o r co n t ro l, s ub s i s t en ce,

ed u cat i on as req u i red b y l aw, o r o t h er care o r co n t ro l n eces s ary fo r th e

ch i l d ’ s p h y si cal

, m en t al

, o r e m o t i o n al h eal t h or m oral s

. ” See Fo rm er

OCGA § 15 -1 1 -2 (8 ) (A). Bu t t h e n ew d efi n i t i o ns ref e r t o a ch il d as

“ d ep en d en t ,” r a t h er t h an “ d ep ri v ed ,” wh ich i s a ch i l d wh o

. . . “ [h ] as

b een ab u s ed or n eg l ect ed an d i s i n need o f t h e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co u rt .”

OCGA § 15 -1 1-2 (2 2 ) (A). “ Neg l ect ” i s t hen d efi n ed t o m ean

. . . ” th e

fai l u re t o pro vi d e pro per p aren t al care o r co n t ro l

, s ub s is t en ce, ed u cat i o n

as req u i red b y l aw, o r o t h er care o r co n t ro l n eces s ary fo r a ch il d ’ s

p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, o r em o t i o n al h eal t h o r m oral s .” OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -2 (4 8 )

(A). 1 0

Th e pet i t i o n in t h i s cas e was fi led in Feb ru ary 2 0 1 4

. Th u s , i n o rd er t o t erm i n at e

t h e m o t h er’ s p a r e n t al ri g ht s in t h is cas e, t h e tri al co u rt was req u i red t o fi n d t h e

ch i l d ren d ep en d en t

, rat h er t h an d ep ri ved

. 1 1 Nev ert h e l e s s , i n i t s fi n al ord er, t h e t ri al

co u rt fo un d t h e ch i l d ren t o be d ep ri v ed

. Gi v en t h e s im i l ari t i es i n t h e two d efi n i t i on s

1 0 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) In t h e In t er es t o f G. R

. B.

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 93

, n

. 1 (7 6 9

SE2 d 1 1 9) (2 0 1 5).

1 1 See OCGA § 15 -1 1 -3 1 0 (a) (5 ).

9an d t h e fact t h at ev i d en ce s u p p o r t e d a f i n di n g o f d ep en d en cy as d efi n ed b y OCGA

§ 1 5-1 1-2 (2 2 ) (A), we fi n d n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

We g r an t ed t h e m o th er’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i on ary rev i ew wi t h o u t t h e

b en efi t o f t h e fu l l ap p el lat e reco rd

, i n cl u di n g t h e tran s cri p t o f t he t erm i n at i o n h eari n g;

h o wev er, b ecau se t h e reco rd su p p o rt s t h e o rd er o f t he co u rt b el o w, we co n cl u d e t h at

t h e ap p l icat i o n fo r d i scret i o n ary ap p eal w as i m p ro v i d en t l y g ran t ed

. Acco rd i n g l y , t h e

o rd er g ran t i n g th e m o th er’ s ap p li cat i o n i s v acat ed

, an d h er ap p e al i s h ereb y

d i s m i s s ed

. 1 2

Ap p ea l d i s mi s s ed . Ph i

p p s , P. J., a n d

Bo gg s
, J., co n cu r

.

1 2 See, e. g ., Ki l li a n v. S t a t e , 3 1 5 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 31

, 73 2 (7 2 8 SE2 d 25 8 ) (2 0 1 2 );

Mo s l ey v. Geo r

g i a Pea ce Of

f i cer & c. , 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 8 (4 5 8 SE2 d 5 03 ) (1 9 9 5 ).

10