FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and M ERCI ER, 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

June 13, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 37 3 . I N T H E I N T E R E S T O F R. D. et al ., ch i l dren

. DO-0 1 3

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Th e m o t h er o f m i no r ch i l d ren R. D. (b o rn M arch 1 2

, 2 0 1 5 ), L. D. (b o rn J an u ary

3 0

, 2 0 0 9 ), K. D. (b o rn A p ri l 1 0

, 2 0 0 7 ), an d T. D. (b o rn Au g u s t 2

, 2 0 0 4 ), ap p eal s fro m

a ju v en il e co u rt o rd er fi n d i n g t h e ch il d ren d ep en d en t

. Sh e co n t en d s t h at t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt erred (1 ) b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce d id n o t s h o w t hat an y d ep en d en cy was cau s ed

b y t he m o t h er, an d (2 ) by al l o w i n g t h e g u ard i an ad l i t em (“ GAL”) t o m ak e o b ject i on s

an d p art i ci p at e i n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n . Fi nd i n g n o rev ers i b l e erro r, we affi rm

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e m o t h e r ’ s involve m e nt w ith t h e Dep art m en t of Fam i l y

an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces (“ DFCS”) 1 b eg an in 2 0 1 0

, to ad d res s th e m o t h er’ s

1 Th e p aren t s h av e l i v ed i n d ifferen t co u n t i es o v er t h e rel ev an t t i m e fram e. Fo r

s i m p l i ci t y

, we refer t o each co u n t y ’ s DFCS an d ju v en i l e co u rt wi t h o u t co u n t y

d es i g n at i o n u n l es s req u i red fo r cl ari ty

.u n reas o nab l e an d ex ces s i v e p h y s i cal d i s ci p l i ne o f h er t h ree ch i l d ren b o rn at t h at t i m e.

. In 2 0 1 2

, t h e t h ree ch i ld ren were t em p o rari ly rem o v ed fro m t h e h o m e d u e t o p h y s i cal

a b u s e b y t h e p aren t s

, an d aft er t h e paren ts co m pl et ed th ei r cas e pl an

, t he ch i l d ren

were ret u rn ed t o t h e h o m e l es s t h an a y ear l at er.

In 2 0 1 4

, wh i l e t h e p aren t s were t h e l eg al g u ard ian s o f th ree ad d i t i o n al ch i l d ren

(n i eces o f t h e m o t her), DFCS ag ai n b ecam e i n v o lv ed wi t h t h e fam i l y aft er t w o -y earo l d n iece J

. W

. recei v ed b u rn s wh en t h e fat h er p l aced h e r o n a h o t s t o v e aft er

i n g es t i n g Am

b i en wh i l e h e was al o ne wi t h t h e ch i l d ren

. Th e fat her was l at er i n d i ct ed

fo r ag g rav at ed b at t ery b ecau s e o f t h e b u rn i n g an d b ecau s e t h e ch i l d al leg ed l y t es t ed

p o s i t i v e fo r GHB, a cen t ral n erv o u s s y s t em d ep res s an t al s o k n own as a “ d at e r a p e

d ru g

. ” 2 J

. W

. al s o ex h i b i t ed b ru i s es o n her ab d o m en

, ch es t

, ear, an d t h i gh

, as wel l as

s crat ch es o n h er b ack an d l acerat i o n s o n th e i n s i d e o f h er l i p ; s h e al s o pres en t ed wi th

h i g h l iv er en zy m es

, wh i ch w as n o t as so ci at ed wi t h an y t o xi c s u b s t an ce o r v i ru s

, b ut

2 See g en eral l y Ga n tt v. S ta t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 2

, 1 0 4 n

. 1 ( 5 8 7 S E 2 d 2 5 5 )

(2 0 0 3) (ex p l ai ni n g t h e d ru g GHB). W h en th e fat h er w as q u es t i on ed ab o u t t h e ev en t s

o f t h i s ab u s e, h e as s ert ed h i s Fi ft h Am en dm en t ri g h t ag ai n s t s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n

. In t h e

p res en t ci v i l p ro ceed i n g, s uch as s ert i o ns can s u p p o rt a n eg at i v e i n feren ce. See In t h e

In t er es t o f K. N. C.

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 5

, 4 8 1 (4 ) (a) (5 90 SE2 d 7 9 2) (2 0 0 3 ), ci t i n g

S a n d er s v. S t a t e

, 25 9 G a. Ap p

. 4 2 2

, 4 25 (2 ) (5 7 7 SE2 d 9 4 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ [A] lt h o u g h a

p ers o n d o es h a v e a ri g h t t o i n vo k e t h e p ri v il eg e i n a ci v i l cas e i n o rd er t o p ro t ect

h i m s el f, wh en h e d o es s o

, an i n feren c e ag ai n s t h i s i n t eres t m ay b e d rawn b y t h e

fact fi n d er.”).

2wh i ch can res u l t fro m p h y s i cal t rau m a. Th e m ot h er s t a t e d t h at t he ch i l d ren i n ju red

each o th er, an d t he p aren t s were u n ab l e t o co n tro l th em

. Bas ed o n th es e fact s an d t h e

p a r e n t s ’ i n ab i l i t y t o s u p erv i se an d care fo r t h e o th er ch i l dren

, t he ju v en i l e co u rt

en t ered a t em

p o rary d i s p os i ti o n fi n d in g t h at ch i l d ren were d ep en d en t an d t em p o rari l y

p l aced i n t o fo s t er care.

In Feb ru ary 2 0 1 5

, aft er a h eari n g

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered an o rd er n u n c p ro

t u n c No v em

b er 2 0 1 4 a d

ju d i cat i n g t h e ch i l dren d ep en d en t

. At t hat t i m e, T. D., t h en

t en y ear s o ld

, had en t ered a res i d en t i al p sy ch i at ri c t reat m en t faci l i ty b as ed o n

ag g res s i v e b e h a v i o r an d v i s u al an d au d i t ory h al lu ci nat i o ns

, an d s he h ad m ad e an

o u t cry o f s ex u al ab u s e b y t h e fat h er t h at co i n ci d ed wi t h t he o n s e t o f h er

h al l u ci n at i o n s

. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt o rd ered t h at cu s t o dy rem ai n wi t h DFCS b as ed o n

reco m m en d at i o ns b y t h e cas e m an ag er, t h e paren t s ’ l a c k o f p ro g res s o n t h ei r

reu n i fi cat i on cas e p l an

, an d i n co m p l et e co u n sel i ng an d p s y ch o l o g i cal fi t n es s

ev al u at i on o f t h e p aren t s.

Aft er fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s wi t h DFCS, i n Au g us t 2 0 1 5

, t h e ju v en il e co u rt

en t ered an o rd er nu n c p ro t u nc J u l y 2 0 1 5 ret u rn i n g K

. D., L. D

., a n d R

. D.

, t o t h e

c u s t o d y o f t h ei r p aren t s. Th e o rd er i n cl u d ed a pro t ect i v e p ro v i s i o n req u i ri n g t h e

p aren t s t o p art i ci p at e i n t h erap y wi t h t h e ch i ld ren as wel l as in d iv i d u al l y

, al l o w acces s

3t o t h e ch i l d ren i n t h e ho m e, an d co o p erat e wi t h DFCS. Du e t o co n t i nu ed m e n t a l

h eal t h co n ce r n s

, T. D

. rem ai n ed i n cu s t o d y o f DFCS res i d i ng at t h e p s y ch i at ri c

t reat m en t cen t er.

In Au g u s t 2 01 6

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered a rem o v al ord er as t o al l fo u r

ch i l d ren aft er DFCS recei ved fo u r rep o rt s o f recen t p h y s i cal ab u s e. Th e n ex t m o n t h,

DFCS fi l ed d ep en d en cy p et i t i o n s as t o t h e ch i l d ren

, an d i n M arch 2 0 17

, t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt h el d an ev i d en t i ary ad ju d i cat i on h eari n g w i t h bo t h p aren t s p res en t

. Fo l l o wi n g

t h e h eari n g

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered an o r d e r fi n d i n g t h e ch i l d ren d ep en d en t an d

req u i ri n g a p erm an en cy

h eari n g wi t h i n n i n e m o n t h s

. Th e m o t her fi l ed t h i s ap p eal

.

1

. Th e m o t h er co n t en d s t h at t h e r e w as i n s u ffi ci en t cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt a fi n d i n g t h at s h e cau s ed an y d ep en d en cy . W e d i s ag ree.

[O] n ap p eal fro m an o rd er fi n d i n g a ch i l d t o b e a d ep en d en t ch i ld

,

we rev iew t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n di n g o f d ep en d en cy i n th e l i gh t m o s t

fav o rab le t o t h e l o wer co u rt ’ s j u d g m en t t o det erm in e wh et h er an y

rat i o n al t ri er of fact co ul d 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 t h e ch il d i s d ep en d en t

. In m ak in g t hi s d et erm i n at i on we n e i t h er

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce no r ju d g e t h e cred i bi l it y o f t h e wi tn es s es

, b ut i n s tead

d efer t o t h e fact u al fi n d i n g s m ad e b y t h e ju ven i l e co u rt

, b eari ng i n m i n d

4t h at “ [t ] h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s p ri m ary res po n s i b i li t y i s t o co n s id er an d

p ro t ect t h e wel fare o f a ch i l d wh o s e wel l-b ei n g i s t h reat en ed .” 3

W i t h res p ect t o t h e d ep en d en cy fi n d in g s ch al l en g ed b y t h e m ot h er, OCGA §

1 5 -1 1-2 (2 2 ) d efi n es a “ d ep en d en t ch i l d ” as o n e wh o

, am o n g ot h er t h i n g s

, “ [h ] as b een

ab u sed o r n eg l ect ed an d i s i n n eed o f th e p ro t ect io n of th e co u rt

. ” Th e Co d e d efi n es

t h e t erm “ ab us e” as “ [a] n y n o n acci d en t al p hy s i cal i n ju ry o r p hy s i cal i n

ju ry wh i ch i s

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ex pl an at io n g i v en fo r i t s uffered b y a ch i l d as t h e res u l t o f t h e

act s o r o m i s s i o n s o f a p ers o n res p o n s i b l e fo r t he care o f a ch il d ; [o r]

. . . [e] m o t i o n al

ab u se. . . .” 4

He r e

, t h ere was ev i d en ce th at t h e m o t h er h ad a d em o n s trat ed h i s t o ry o f

i n v o l v em en t wi t h D F C S

, inc luding pr i o r ad ju d i cat i o n s of d ep en d en cy s t em m i n g fro m

h er own ab u s i v e beh av i o r an d l ack of s u p erv i s i o n o f t he ch i l dren

. A ch i l d wh o l i v ed

i n th e h ou s eh o l d des c r i b e d h i s ch i l d h o o d at m o s p here as o n e o f dai l y y el l i n g,

t h reat en in g

, an d cu rs in g at t h e ch i l d ren b y t h e m ot h er, wh o wo u l d ro u t i n el y d i s ci p l i n e

t h e y o un g er ch i ld ren b y s t ri k i ng t h em wi t h a han d o r a b el t h ard en o u g h t o l e a v e

3 (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) In t h e In t er es t o f S

. C. S

. , 33 6 Ga. Ap p. 2 3 6

, 2 4 4 -2 4 5 (7 8 4

SE2 d 8 3 ) (2 01 6 ), q uo t i n g In t h e In t er es t of A. B.

, 2 8 9 G a

. Ap p

. 6 5 5, 65 6 (1 ) (6 5 8

SE2 d 2 0 5) (2 0 0 8).

4 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-2 (2 ) (A), (B).

5v i s i b l e m ark s

. Th e m o t h er al s o freq u en t l y hi t t h e ch i l dren ’ s h ead s an d s l ap p ed t h ei r

l i ps

. As t h e t r i al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n gs co n cl u s iv el y dem on s t rat e, t h e p h y s i cal d i s ci p l i n e

i m p o s ed b y t h e m o t her o n her ch i ld ren w as b o th u n rea s o n a b l e an d ex ces s i v e. Th e

ch i l d d es cri b ed t h e m o t h er as “ d o i ng t h e m o s t y el l i n g .”

Des p i t e h er p ri o r i n v o l v em en t wi t h DFCS, t h e m o th er’ s p hy s i cal l y ab u s i v e

co n du ct p ers is t ed

. On on e o ccas i o n i n March 20 1 6, aft e r t h e ch i l d ren h ad b een

ret u rn ed t o t h e h o m e m o st rec e n t l y, t h e m ot h er u n reas o n ab l y an d ex ces s i v el y

d i s ci pl i n ed s ev en -y ear-o l d L. D. b y s l ap p i n g or s pan k i n g h er b are s k i n m u l ti p l e t i m es

an d b eat i n g h er h ead ag ai n s t t he wal l

. 5 On an o th er o ccas i on aft er t h e ret u rn o f t h e

ch i l d ren

, t h e m o t h er g ot i n t o a p h y s i cal fi g h t wi t h o n e o f t h e ch il d ren

, ro l l i n g o n t h e

fl oo r an d t h ro wi n g p u nch es : “ [I] t w as l i k e an act u a l f i g h t wi t h

. . . [t h e 11 -y ear-o ld

ch i l d ] an d a g ro wn wo m an .” Aft erward , t h e m o t h er “ k i nd o f b rag g [ed ] ab o u t i t .”

Th ro u g h o u t t h e ch i ld ren ’ s t i m e i n th e h o us e, o n reg u lar o ccas i o ns

, t h e m o t h er

wo u l d e x c e s s i v el y d i s ci p li n e t h e ch i l d ren b y fo rci n g t h em t o s t an d ag ai n s t a wal l

,

faci ng i t

, wi t h t h ei r arm s h el d o u t h o ri zo n t al l y fo r lo n g peri o d s o f ti m e, at l eas t o nce

5 Al s o d u ri n g th at t i m e, L. D. h ad t ro u b l e wi t h b at h ro o m trai n i n g l i n k ed t o t h e

at m o s p here i n t h e h o m e.

6fo r “ h o u rs .” Th e m o t h er al s o ro u t i n el y y el l ed an d cu rs ed at t h e ch i l d ren i f t h ey fai l ed

t o d ai l y cl ean t h e h o us e t o h er s t an d ard s , cal li n g t h em “ MF-er.”

M en t al h eal t h p r o fes s i o n al s wh o i n t erv i ewed t h e ch i ld ren rep o rt ed t h at t h e

t h ree ol d er ch i ld ren s u ffered em o t i o n al l y fro m t h e ab us i v e en v i ro n m en t m ai n t ai n ed

at t h e h o m e

– t h e y o u n g es t was t o o y o u n g t o p art i ci p at e i n a m en t al h eal th ev al u at i o n.

A cl i n ical p s y ch o l o gi s t, Dr. A n d y An d ers o n

, wh o t es t i fi ed as an ex p ert o n p aren t al

fi tn es s

, d i ag n o s ed t h e m o t her wi t h a t rau m a-rel at ed p ers o n al i t y d i s ord er, an d

ex p lai n ed t h at t h e m o t h er d id n o t ack n o wl ed g e an y ex ces s i v e p h y s i cal di s ci p l i n e o r

n eg lect in t h e h ou s eh o l d

. Th e m o t h e r l a ck ed i n s ig h t as t o t h e cau s e o f h er ch ro n i c

i n v o l v em en t wi t h DFCS. Bas ed o n h i s ev al u at i o n o f t h e m ot h er an d fat h er, An d ers o n

s t at e d t h a t h e d i d n ot ex p ect t h e m o t h er t o ch an g e h er ab u s i v e co nd u ct

, d es p i t e

rep eat ed i n v o l vem en t wi t h DFCS, i n cl u di n g m en t al h eal th co u n s el i n g an d paren t i n g

cl as s es : “ [Y] o u ’ d ex pect h i s t o ry to rep eat i t sel f t o s o m e deg r e e

. . . Sh o rt o f

[ack n o w l ed g i ng t h e p ro b l em

, ] y o u w o u l dn ’ t ex p ect so m eb o d y to m i racu lo u s l y b eg in

t h ei r reco v ery

. ” He al so ex p lai n ed t h a t t h e i n s t ab i l i t y an d m u l t i p le p l acem en t s in

fo s t er care ex p eri en ced b y t h e ch i ld ren

,

i s n o t g o o d fo r t hem an d co n t ri b u t es t o s o c i a l

, e m o t i o nal

, [an d ]

b eh av i o ral d y s fu n ct i on

. T h e reas o n fo r t h o s e

– t h e l en g t h o f t i m e i n t h i s

7cas e, I s t i l l h o l d t h e p aren t s acco u n t ab l e fo r i t b ecau se

. . . o n th e

s u rface, at l eas t

, t h e co n cer n s e x p r e s s ed ab ou t t h ei r paren t i ng are n o t

t h at co m p li cat ed fro m a s o ci al s erv i ces pers p ect i v e. It s h o u l d h av e b een

rel at iv el y eas y t o res o l v e, at l eas t f or [t h e m o t h er]

. . . An d s o if [t he

m o t h er] were m ak i n g t h e arg u m en t t h at t h e reas o n t h at [a ch il d ’ s ]

b eh av i o r i s so di so rd ered i s b ecau s e s h e’ s b een i n fo s t er care, i n an d o ut

,

I w o u l d s ay

. . . wel l

, th e reas o n th at s h e’ s b een i n [an d o u t o f] fo s t er

care . . . i s b ecau s e o f y o u r p aren t i ng

.

T h i s e v i d en ce, wh en v i ewed i n t h e p ro p er li g h t o n ap p eal

, 6 au t h o ri zed t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt t o fi n d b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en c e t h a t th e ch i ld ren were

d ep ri v ed b as ed o n p h y s i cal an d em o t i on al ab u s e. 7 As n o t ed ab o ve, a “ d ep en d en t

ch i l d ” i s o n e wh o “ has b een ab u s ed o r n eg l ect ed an d i s i n n eed o f t he p ro tect i o n o f

t h e co u rt .” 8 Th e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at th e ch i l d ren were s u b ject ed t o p h y si cal ab u s e

as wel l as em ot i o n al ab u s e t hat cau s ed t h e ch il d ren em o t i on al harm d i ag n o sed b y t h e

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

f S . C. S

. , 3 36 Ga. Ap p . at 2 4 4 -2 4 5.

7 See In t h e In t er es t o

f K. B.

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 , 5 3 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 6 2 7 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(ev i d en ce t h at ch i l d s u ffered p hy s i cal ab us e wh i l e i n h er m o t h er’ s cu s t o d y s u p p o rt ed

ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n di n g th at ch i l d was d ep ri ved ). See al s o In t h e In t er es t o f S

. P.

, 3 3 6

Ga. A p p. 4 8 8

, 4 96 (7 8 4 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 1 6) (p hy s i cal p reced en t o n ly ) (“ M an y o f t h e

p ri n ci p l es ex p res s ed i n d eci s i o n s u n d er o ur fo rm er Co de are h el p fu l i n d et erm i n i n g

wh et h er d ep en d en cy

h as b een s h o wn . . . .”).

8 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-2 (2 2 ).

8ex am i n i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t

. To t h e ex t en t t h at t h e m o th er ch al len g es t h e wi t n es s

d es cri p t io n s o f t h e ab u s e, p art i cu l arl y o f t h e i n ci d en t in wh i ch s h e ban ged L. D.’ s

h ead ag ai n s t t h e wal l

, t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e w i tn es s es ’ t es t i m o n y was fo r t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt to res o l v e as th e fact fi n d er. 9 Al t h o u g h no o t h er ch i l d was p res en t i n t h e ro o m

,

a ch i l d was i n t he h o us e n earb y an d t es t i fi ed ab o u t h eari n g t h e ab us e as wel l as t h e

l at er acco u n t t o l d t o h im b y L

. D. 1 0 T h e ju v en il e co u rt was n o t req u ired t o d r a w a n

ex cu lp at o ry i n feren ce fro m t h e ev i d en ce, 1 1 es p eci al l y i n l i g ht o f t he o th er ev i d en ce

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

f T. B. R

. , 3 04 Ga. Ap p

. 7 73

, 7 7 3 (6 9 7 SE2 d 8 78 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(ex p l ai n i n g t h at ap p el l at e co u rt s “ d o n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e t h e

cred i b i l i t y of wi t n es s es ; rat h er, we d efer t o t h e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s fact fi n di n g an d affi rm

u n l es s t h e ap pel l at e s t an d ard i s n o t m et .”).

1 0 Th i s ev id en ce was t ak en i n an ad ju d i cat i o n h eari n g

. See O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 8 1

( d ) (W it h cert ai n ex cep t i o n s n o t rel ev an t h ere, “ t h e ad ju d i cat io n h eari ng s h al l b e

co n du ct ed i n acco rd an ce wi th Ti t l e 2 4

. ”). On ap p eal

, t h e m o th er m ak es n o ch al l en g e

t o t h i s t es t i m o n y o n h ears ay g ro u n d s

, s o an y h ears ay ch al l en g e i s d eem ed ab an d o n ed

. S e e Br o wn v. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga. 80 4

, 8 1 4 (6 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 3 76 ) (2 0 1 4); In t h e In t er es t of

G. Q.

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 69

, 7 7 (1 ) (c) (7 6 1 S E 2 d 4 9 0) (2 0 1 4 ), ci t i ng Co u rt o f Ap p eal s

R u l e 2 5 ( c) (2 ). See al s o B r a d s h a w v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 6 50

, 6 53 n.2 (7 6 9 SE2 d 8 9 2 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ Un d er o u r n ew E v i d e n c e Co d e, i f ‘ a p art y d o es no t p ro p erl y o b ject to

h ears ay

, t h e o b

ject i o n s h al l be d eem ed wai v ed

, an d t h e h ears ay ev i d en ce s h al l b e

l eg al ev i d en ce an d ad m i s s i b l e.’ ”), ci t i n g OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 2

.

1 1 S e e, e.g

., In t h e In t er es t o f J. S

. , 2 95 Ga. Ap p. 8 61

, 8 6 3 (6 7 3 SE2 d 3 3 1 )

(2 0 0 9) (“ [T] h is Co u rt n ei t h er wei g h s t h e ev i d en ce n o r d et erm i nes t h e cred i b i l i t y o f

wi t n es s es ; rat h er, it d efers t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact fi n d i n g an d a f f i r m s u n l es s t h e

ap p el l at e s t an d ard h as n o t b een m et .”).

9o f th e m o t h e r ’s a b u s i v e p aren t i n g i n t h i s cas e. A cco rd i n g l y

, t h i s en um erat i o n i s

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

2

. Th e m o t h er al so co n ten d s t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred b y al l o wi n g t h e GAL

t o m ak e o b

ject i o n s an d ex am i n e w i t n e s s es

. “ W e rev i ew t h i s d eci s i o n d e n o v o as i t

i n v o l v es t h e in t erp ret at i o n o f a s t at u t e, wh i ch is a q u es t i on of l aw.” 1 2 Bas ed o n t h e

s t at u to ry an d ap p li cab l e l aw, t h i s en u m erat i o n i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Du ri n g t h e h eari n g, t h e ch i l d ren w ere rep res en t ed by an at t o rn ey , an d a GAL

(a l s o an at t o rn ey ) was al s o ap p o i n t ed t o rep res en t t h ei r bes t i nt eres t s

, d u e t o an

ap p aren t co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

. 1 3 At a cert ai n p o i n t i n t h e h ea r i n g

, t h e GAL at t em p t ed

t o m ak e an o b

ject i o n o n a h ears ay g ro u n d

. Th e j u v en i l e co urt i n it i al ly s t at ed t h at t h e

GAL wo u ld n ot b e al l o wed t o as s ert o b ject i o n s or p art i ci p at e i n e x a m i n at i o n o f

wi t n es s es

, bas ed o n t h e co u rt ’ s u n d ers t an d in g th at t h e G A L w as es s en ti al l y act i n g as

a l ay res o u rce t o t h e co u rt in st ead o f as t h e ch i l d ren ’ s at t o r n e y

. Aft er a l en g t hy

co l l o q u y

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt u l t im at el y ru l ed t h at t h e GAL co ul d m ak e o b ject i o n s an d

1 2 In t he In t er es t

o f H. E. B.

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

1 3 See OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 4 (b ) (“ An at t o rn ey fo r an al leg ed d ep en d en t ch i ld

m ay s erv e as su ch ch il d ’ s g u ard i an ad l i t em un l es s o r u n t i l t h ere i s co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

b et ween t h e at t o rn ey ’ s d ut y t o s u ch ch i l d as s u ch ch i ld ’ s at t o rn ey an d t h e at t o rn ey ’ s

co n si d ered o p in i o n o f s uch ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s as g uard i an ad l i t em .”).

10ex am i n e wi t n es s es

, o v er t h e m o t her’ s o b ject i o n

. T h e m o t h er arg u es t h at t h i s i s

co n trary t o t h e s t at ut ory

au th o ri t y o f t h e GAL.

As a g en eral m at ter, OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 4 (a) p ro v i d es t h at

, i n d e p e n d en cy

p r o c eed i n g s

, t he ju v en il e “ co u rt s h al l ap p o in t a g u ard i an ad l i t em fo r an al l eg ed

d ep en d en t ch i l d ,” an d OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 5 (a) req u i res th at “ [a] gu ard i an ad l i t em

s h al l ad v o cat e fo r a ch i l d ’ s b es t i n teres t s i n t h e p ro ceed i ng fo r w hi ch th e g uard i an ad

l i tem h as b een ap p o i n ted .”

Pert i n en t t o t h e m o th er’ s ch al l en ge, OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 4 (e) p ro v id es t h at “ [a]

l ay g u ard i an s hal l n ot en gag e i n act i v i t i es wh i ch co u l d reas o n ab l y b e co n s tru ed as t h e

p ract i ce o f l aw,” b u t i t s ay s n ot h i n g ab o u t l im i t in g t he ro l e o f a n o n -l ay g u ard i an

. In

i n t erp ret i n g t h is st at u t e, we m u s t g i v e effect t o t h e u s e of t h e t erm “ l ay g u ard i an ” an d

av o id ren d eri n g m ean i n g l es s t h e t erm “ l ay .” 1 4 T h erefo re, w e co n cl u d e t h at t h e s t at u t e

creat es a d i s t i n ct i o n b et w een l ay g u ard ian s an d n o n-l ay gu ard i an s, an d i t d o es n o t o n

i t s face l i m i t t h e co n d u ct o f t h e l at t er. 1 5 Li k ewi s e, O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 4 (e) d o es n ot

1 4 See In t h e In t er es t o

f K. S

. ,

_ _ Ga.

_ _ (Cas e No

. S1 7 G1 3 4 4

, d eci d ed M ay 7,

2 0 1 8 ), ci ti n g S l akma n v. Co n t i nen t a l Ca s u a l t y Co

. , 2 77 Ga. 1 8 9

, 1 9 0 (5 8 7 SE2 d 2 4 )

(2 0 0 3) (ex p l ai n i ng t h at

, w h en i n terp ret i n g a st at u t e

, a co u rt m u s t av o i d “ a

co n st ru ct i o n t h at m ak es s o m e l an g u ag e m ere s urp l u sag e”).

1 5 See Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 17 0

, 1 7 2-1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(“ [W ] e m u s t affo rd t he s t at u to ry t ex t i t s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean in g

, we m u s t v i ew

11s u p p ort t he p ro p o s i t i o n th at a n o n -l ay GAL is au th o ri zed o n l y t o act as a l ay wi t n es s

fo r p u rp o s es o f rep o rt i n g o n t h e b es t i n t eres ts o f a ch i l d

. 1 6

Th i s i s co n s i s t en t wi t h t he la r g e r s t at u t o ry co n t ex t

. 1 7 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 3 (a)

p ro v id es t h at “ [a] ch il d an d an y o t h er part y t o a p r o c e e d i n g u n d er t h i s art i cl e s h al l

h av e t h e ri gh t t o an at t o rn ey at al l s t ag es o f t h e p ro ceed in g s u n d er t h i s art i cl e,” an d

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 8 1 (b ) (2 ) p ro v i d es t h at a GAL “ s h al l h av e t h e ri g h t t o p art i ci p at e

i n t h e ad ju d i cat i o n h eari n g .” In l i g h t o f th i s cl ear p ro v i s i o n fo r t h e ri g h t t o an at t o rn ey

an d t h e ri g h t o f a GAL t o p art i ci p at e i n dep e n d e n c y p ro ceed i ng s

, we co n cl u d e t h at

t h e j u v en i l e co u rt d i d no t err by al l o wi n g t h e n o n -l ay GAL i n t h i s cas e to ex am i n e

wi t n es s es an d ch al l en g e cert ai n ev i den ce i n t h e s erv i ce o f th e ch i l dren’ s be st i n t eres t s

.

As t h e GAL arg u ed t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

, “ If [t h e m o t h er’ s at t o rn ey ] h as t h e ri g h t to

t h e s t at u t o ry t ex t i n th e co nt ex t i n wh i ch i t ap p ears

, . . . an d we m u st read t h e st at u t o ry

t ex t i n it s m o s t n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e w ay

, as an o rd i nary s p eak e r o f t h e E n g l i s h

l an g u ag e wo u l d .”) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ).

1 6 W e n o t e t h at OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 4 (d ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] co u rt s hal l ap p o i nt

a CASA t o act as g u a r d i an ad l i t em wh en ev er p o s s i b l e, an d a CASA m ay b e

ap p oi n t ed i n ad d i t i o n t o an at t orn ey wh o i s serv i n g as a g u ard i an ad l i t em .” (CASA

i s an acro ny m fo r “ co u rt ap p o i n t ed s peci al ad v o cat e,” wh i ch i s d e f i n ed as “ a

co m m u n it y vo l u n teer wi t h cert ai n t rai n i n g an d co u r t ap p ro val

. OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2

(1 6 ).) Th u s

, t he s t at u to ry s ch em e al l o w s fo r t h e ap p oi n t m en t o f an at to rn ey

, a CASA,

an d an at t o rn ey

act in g as a GAL, as was d o ne i n t h i s cas e.

1 7 See Dea l , 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 -1 7 3 (1 ) (a).

12o b

ject t o ev i den ce t h at co m es i n b ecau s e it d o es n o t s erv e h i s cl i en t ’ s w is hes

, t h en I

s h o u ld hav e t h e ri g h t t o o b ject t o

. . . ev i den ce co m in g i n b ecau s e i t d o es n ’ t s erv e t h e

ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres ts .” 1 8

Th i s o u t co m e is al s o co n s i s ten t wi t h ex is t i n g cas e l aw. Fo r ex am p l e, i n In t h e

In t er es t o f W

. L. H.

, 1 9 t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a ad d res s ed t h e s t a n d i n g o f a

ch i l d ’ s at t o rn ey t o ap p eal a f i n d i n g o f d ep ri v at io n u n d er t h e fo rm er J u v en i l e Co d e

ag ai n s t t h e wi s h es o f t h e GAL. In fi n d i n g a l ack o f s t an d i ng

, t h e Co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at

“ [t ] h e p ro t ect o r o f a ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s i s hi s g u ard ian ad l i t em . It h as prev i o u s l y

b een h el d t h at

, wh en a co urt ap p o i n t s a g uard i an ad l i t em t o rep res e n t a m i n o r

, t h e

m i n o r i s i n effect m ad e a p art y t o t h e act i o n an d h as st an d in g t h ro u g h th e g uard i an ad

l i tem t o ap p eal .” 2 0 Th u s, t h e n o n -l ay GAL’ s ro l e i s m o re t h an a m ere fact wi t n es s

, an d

1 8 In at l eas t on e o t h er co n t ex t

, a GAL h as act ed es s en ti al l y as an o t h er p art y to

t h e l i t i g at i o n

, rep res en t in g th e b es t i n t eres ts of t h e ch i l d

. In s u ch a cas e, a GAL, o n

i t s o wn

, m ad e m o t i on s i n t h e l o wer co urt

. See Pa t e v. Sa d lo ck

,

__ Ga. Ap p.

_ _ (Cas e

No s

. A1 8 A0 3 95

, A1 8 A0 39 6

, A1 8A0 3 97 ; d eci d ed May 3, 2 0 1 8) (GAL m o v ed fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f a tem

p o rary o rd er an d fo r “ o t h er cl ari fi cat i o n an d d i rect i o n reg ard i n g

cert ai n m at t ers co ncern i n g t h e ch i l d ren ”).

1 9 2 9 2 Ga. 5 2 1 (7 3 9 SE2 d 3 22 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

2 0 (Fo o t n o t e an d p u n ct uat i o n om i t ted .) Id

. at 5 2 4

, q u o t i ng In t h e In t er es t o f J.

F. , 3 10 Ga. Ap p . 8 07 , 8 0 8 n .1 (7 1 4 SE2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

13l i m i ti n g t h e n on -l ay GAL’ s p art i ci p at i o n t o t h at ro l e w o u l d u n d erm i n e t h e bro ad d u t y

u n d ert ak en b y

a GAL i n s erv i ce o f a ch i ld ’ s b es t i n t eres t s

.

Fi n al l y

, t h e m o t h er p o in t s t o n o h arm t h at aro s e fro m t he G A L’ s p art i ci p at i o n

i n t h i s cas e. Sh e h as id en t i fi ed n o co n fl i ct b et ween t h e G AL’ s ro l e rep ort i n g h er

fi nd i ng s an d her ro l e tak i n g p art i n ex am i n at i o n o f wi t n es ses o r o ccas io n al o b ject i o n

t o ev i den ce, n o r an y i m p ro p er in fl u en ce o n t h e p ro ces s as a co n fl ict at t o rn ey

rep res en t i n g t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d ren

. “ [T] h e m o t h er i s req u ired n o t o n l y t o

s h o w erro r, b ut h arm as wel l .” 2 1 Acco rd i ng l y

, b a s e d o n t h e reco rd b efo re u s

, t h i s

en u m erat i o n p res en t s n o b as is fo r rev ers al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, C. J., a n d Mer ci er

, J., co n cu r

.

2 1 In t h e In t er es t o

f D. R.

, 2 9 8 G a. Ap p

. 7 7 4

, 7 7 9 (6 8 1 SE2 d 21 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ), ci t i n g

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 1 an d o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro un d s b y In th e In t er es t o f A. C.

, 2 8 5 Ga.

8 2 9

, 8 3 3 (1 ), n. 3 (6 86 SE2 d 6 3 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ). See al s o In t h e In t er es t of E. G. M.

, 3 4 1 Ga.

Ap p . 3 3 , 6 2 (6 ) (7 8 9 SE2 d 6 3 9 ) (2 0 17 ).

14