Filed 4/1/21 Jordan W. v. Superior Ct. CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JORDAN W.

Petitioner,

v.

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF KERN COUNTY,

Respondent;

KERN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN

SERVICES,

Real Party in Interest.

F082126

(Super. Ct. No. JD138756-00)

OPINION

THE COURT*

ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. Raymonda B.

Marquez, Judge.

Jordan W., in pro. per., for Petitioner.

No appearance for Respondent.

No appearance for Real Party in Interest.

-ooOoo-

* Before Franson, Acting P.J., Meehan, J. and Snauffer, J.
2.

In a petition for extraordinary writ, Jordan W. (mother) challenges the juvenile

court’s order made at the disposition hearing and setting the matter for a hearing under

Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26. We deny the petition.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY1

In July of 2018, law enforcement responded to a call of an unresponsive two-yearold, Ayden. Ayden was transported to the hospital, mother taken into custody, and sixmonth-old Axel was placed into protective custody. Ayden’s injuries, which included

bruising on his cheek and forehead, bite marks, hemorrhaging in the eye, and a torn and

actively bleeding anus, were determined to be “nonaccidental” and he was declared brain

dead. The autopsy ruled the method of death was a homicide and mother, who admitted

to biting Ayden, was ultimately charged with second-degree murder, willful cruelty to a

child, and great bodily injury to a child under the age of five. 

The section 300 petition alleged Axel was at serious risk of harm due to the nonaccidental physical harm inflicted on Ayden, resulting in his death. It was also alleged

that mother failed to adequately care for Axel due to her mental illness and substance

abuse. Axel was detained and at disposition, finally held on December 8, 2020, mother

was denied reunification services, Axel removed from her care, and a section 366.26

hearing set for April 7, 2021. 

DISCUSSION

Mother contends she was not able to complete her case plan because she was in

custody awaiting trial on her criminal case. Mother’s complaint is that the social worker

failed to investigate the possibility of maternal grandmother having custody of Axel. 

Respondent filed a letter requesting dismissal of the petition as “the petition does

not appear to make any legally cognizable argument.” Respondent is correct. 

1 Mother provides no summary of the facts. This brief summary is taken from the 

clerk’s transcript in the case. 
3.

A writ petition to review an order setting a hearing under section 366.26 must

include: a summary of “significant facts, limited to matters in the record,” “a separate

heading or subheading summarizing the point and support each point by argument and

citation of authority,” reference to the record by citation, and an explanation of the

significance of any cited portion of the record. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452(a), (b);

Cheryl S. v. Superior Court (1996) 51 Cal.App.4th 1000, 1005.) If a petition does not

“present an adequate record, argument, and points and authorities,” the petition may be

dismissed. (Cheryl S., supra, at p. 1005.)

Mother’s writ petition is inadequate. It does not include a summary of significant

facts or an “argument” section. It does not cite to any legal authority or the record, and it

does not specify any error allegedly committed by the juvenile court.

DISPOSITION

The petition for extraordinary writ is denied. This court’s opinion is final

forthwith as to this court pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.490(b)(2)(A).