FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for re c ons i de r a tion m us t be

phy s ic a lly re ce iv e d in 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 11, 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 35 3 . STEELE v . STEELE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

St ep han i e St eel e (“ b io l o g i cal m ot h er”) ap p eal s a ju d g m en t t h at

, pu rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 (b ), t erm i nat ed h er p aren tal ri g h t s t o h er b io lo g ical ch i l d an d

g ran t ed t h e ad o p t i on p et i t io n o f t h e ch i l d ’ s s t ep m o t h er, S a r a St eel e (“ ad o p t i v e

m o th er”). Th e b i o l o gi cal m o t h er co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri a l c o u r t erred b y fai l i n g to

i n fo rm h er o f her ri g ht t o co u n s el

, en g ag in g i n ex p art e co m m u n i cat i o n s, fai l i n g to

m ak e ex p res s fi n d i n gs o f f act

, an d en t eri n g ju dg m en t ag ai n s t h er on in su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce. Becau s e t h e b i o l og i cal m o t h er has fai l ed t o d e m o n s t rat e an y rev ers i b l e

erro r, we affi rm

.

Th e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h e ch i l d was b o rn i n wed lo ck

. W hen h er p aren t s

d i v o rced o n Ap ri l 2 1

, 2 0 1 1, s h e was t h ree y ears o l d

. Th e fat h er was award ed p h y s i calcu s t o d y o f t h e c hi l d

, as wel l as fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i n g au t h o ri t y

. Th e bi o l o g i cal

m o th er w as g ran t ed v i s i t at io n t h at i n cl u d ed ev ery o t h er week en d an d a l t e r n a t i n g

m a j o r h o l i day s; s h e al so w as o rd ered t o p ay $ 24 5 as m o n th l y ch i l d su p po rt

. 1 Ea c h

p aren t was g ran t ed t el ep h o n e co n t act wi t h t h e ch i l d wh en t h e ch i ld was wi t h t h e o t h er

p aren t

.

In 2 0 1 2, t h e fat her m arri ed Sara St eel e. An d ab ou t fo u r y ears l at er, o n M arch

1 5

, 2 0 1 6, s h e fi l ed p et i ti o n s u n d er Geo rg i a’ s Ad o p ti o n Ch ap t er 2 seek i n g t o t erm i n at e

t h e p aren t al ri g h t s of t h e b i o lo g i cal m o t h er a n d t o ad o p t t h e ch i l d

. T h e ad o p t i o n

p et i t i o n was acco m

p an i ed b y t he fat h er’ s s wo rn co n sen t

.

Gen eral ly

, a s t ep p aren t m ay ad o p t h is o r h er s p o u s e’ s ch i ld o n l y i f t h e p aren t

wh o s e ri g h t s wi l l t erm i n at e wi t h t h e ad o p t i o n “ v o l u n t ari l y an d i n wri t i n g s urren d ers

al l o f h i s [o r her] ri g h ts t o t h e ch i l d t o [t h e s t ep paren t ] fo r t h e p u rp o se o f en ab l i n g [t h e

s t ep p aren t ] t o ad o p t t h e ch i l d [.] ” OCGA § 1 9 -8 -6 (a) (1 ); s ee R a y v. Ha nn , 3 2 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 5

, 4 8 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 0 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Bu t i f th at p aren t refu ses t o s urren d er h i s o r

h er p a r e n t al ri gh t s

, OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 (b ) p ro v i d es t h at t h e co u rt m ay n ev ert h el es s

1 T h e b io lo g i cal m o t h er recei v ed a c r e d i t o n ch i l d s u p p o rt i n an am o u n t t h at

p ai d wh at was o wed u n t i l J u ne o r J u l y 2 0 1 2

.

2 See OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 et s eq

.

2t erm i n at e t h e b i o l o g i cal p aren t ’ s ri g h t s an d gran t t h e s t ep p aren t’ s p et i t i on t o ad o p t t h e

ch i l d wh ere t h e t ri al co u rt fi nd s t h at t h e p aren t

,

fo r a p eri o d o f o n e y ear o r l o n g er i m m ed iat el y 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 ad op t i o n

, wi t h o u t ju s t ifi ab l e cau se, h as s i g n i fi can tl y fai l ed :

( 1 ) T o co m

m u n i cat e o r t o m ak e a b o n a fi d e at t em p t t o co m m u n i ca t e

wi t h t h at ch i l d i n a m ean i n g fu l , s u p po rt i v e, p aren t al m an n er; o r (2 ) To

p ro v i d e fo r t h e care an d s u p p o rt o f t h at c h i l d a s r eq u i red b y l aw o r

ju d i ci al d ecree[.]

OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ). See Ra y

, 3 23 Ga. A p p

. at 4 8 -4 9 (2 ). “ It i s t he pet i t i o n er[ & s ]

b u rd en to p ro v e t h at t erm i n at io n o f t h e p aren t al ri g h t s is warran t ed

, i n cl ud i n g t h e l ack

o f ju s t i fi ab l e cau s e.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Ra y

, 3 23 Ga. Ap p. at 4 9 (2 ).

If t h e p et i t i o n er m eet s th at b urd en o f pro o f, t h en t h e co u rt m us t a l s o d e t erm i n e

wh et h er t h e p ro p o s ed ad o p t i o n i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld . OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0

(b ). See Ra

y , 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 9 (2 ).

In t h e i n s t an t cas e, g i v en t h e ad op t i ve m ot h er’ s p et i t i o n s

, t h e t ri al co u rt

co n ven ed a s eri es o f h eari n gs

. No t i ce was s en t t o t h e p art i es t h at o n J u n e 2 9

, 2 0 1 6,

a h ear i n g w o u l d b e h el d o n t h e t erm i nat i o n p et i t i o n ; th e p et i ti o n al l eg ed

, in t er al i a,

t h at t h e b i o l o g i cal m o th er h ad b een u s i n g m e t h a m p h et am i n e; t h at h er l as t p h y s i cal

co n tact wi t h t h e ch i l d h ad b een i n m id -2 0 14 ; th at h er l as t t el ep ho n e co nt act wi t h t h e

3c h i ld h ad b een i n Decem b er 2 0 1 4 ; an d t h at t h e b i o l o g ical m o t h er h ad fa i l e d t o

p ro v id e co u rt -o rd ered s u p p o rt fo r t h e ch il d

.

W h en t h at h eari n g co n v en ed as s ch ed u l ed (“ T erm i n at i o n Heari n g ”), t h e ch i ld

was 8 y ears o l d

. Th e bi ol o g i cal m o t h er had n o t fi l ed an y res p o n se i n t h e cas e, b u t s h e

ap p eared p ro s e at t he h eari n g an d ex p res s ed op p o s i t i o n t o t he p et it i on s

. W hen cal l ed

t o t he s t an d b y

t h e ad o p ti v e m ot h er’ s co un s el

, t h e b i o l o gi cal m o t h er ack n o wl ed g ed

t h at as p art o f t h e d i v o rce d ecree, s h e was co u rt -o rd ered to p ay m o nt h l y ch i l d s u p p o rt

,

b u t t hat s h e h a d no t d o n e s o

. 3 Sh e reco un t ed th at i n earl y 2 0 1 2

, sh e b eg an u s i n g

m et h am p h et am i ne. An d s in ce 2 0 1 3

, s h e fu rt h er reco u n t ed

, s h e had n o t b een “ l eg al l y ”

em pl o y ed ; as s h e ex p l ai n ed at t h e h eari n g, “ I was wo rk

– I was o n th e s t reet s .” Sh e

recal l ed t h at du ri n g t hat t i m e, s h e was s o m et i m es “ s t ay i n g at m o t el s ,” b u t o t h erwi s e

was “ h om el es s o n t h e s t reet s .”

In Au g u s t 20 1 4

, t h e b io lo g i cal m o t h er t es t i fi ed

, h er v i s it at i o n w i t h h er ch i ld

was m o d i fi ed t o req u i re su p erv i s i o n. B u t s i n ce J un e 2 0 1 4

, t h e b i o l o g i cal m o t h er

ad m i t t ed , s h e h ad n o t ex erci s ed an y v i s i t at i o n ri g ht s . Sh e fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at s h e

h ad n o t t ri ed t o co n t act h er ch i l d b ecau s e m o s t of t he t im e, “ I was ei t h er

– h i g h o r

i n t o x i cat ed

–

an d I d i d n ’ t wan t t o cal l h er wh en I w as

– i n t hat s t at e.” In No v em

b er

3 See, h o wev er, n o t e 1

, s u p ra.

42 0 1 5

, s h e was arres t ed an d j ai l ed u n t i l l at e J an u ary 2 0 1 6 ; t h e ch arg es s t em m ed fro m

v i o l at i n g pro b at i o n (rel at i n g t o J u n e 2 0 15 o ffen s es o f DUI an d g i vi n g fal s e

i n fo rm at i o n ). Sh e rel ay ed t h at

, as p art o f t h e d i s p os i t i o n o f th at cas e, s h e was o rd ered

t o u n d erg o a y ear o f reh ab i l i t at i o n

. In J an u ary 2 0 1 6

, s h e m o v ed t o M is s o u ri , wh ere

s h e en t ered a reh ab il i tat i o n p ro g ram

. At t he t i m e o f t he Term i n at i o n Heari n g

, s h e h ad

co m p l et ed ab o u t s i x m o nt h s of t h e pro g ram

, an d s h e h ad b eg u n v o l un t eeri ng at t h e

faci li t y ’ s s en i o r cen t er. Th e b i o l o g i cal m o t h er was as k ed at t h e T erm i n at i o n H eari n g,

“ [D] o y o u feel l i ke y o u ’ re i n a p o s i t i o n t o b e a m o t h er to y o u r ch i l d at t h is t i m e? ” Sh e

an s wered

, “ No t at t h is p o i nt

, n o.” Sh e s t at ed t h at s he was ret u rn in g t o M i s s o u ri l at er

t h at d ay , b u t p os i ted t hat s h e co u l d “ p ro b ab l y t rav el h ere t o v i s i t wi t h h er [ch i l d ] .”

At t h e en d o f t he Term i n at i on H e a r in g

, t h e t ri al j u d ge an n o un ced t h at i t

p l an n ed t o “ t ak e t h i s p art u n d er co n s i d erat io n

, ” t h en i s s u e a wr i t t en ord er, an d

t h ereaft er “ t ak e t h e ev i d en ce as far as t h e p et i t i o n fo r ad op t i o n i s co n cern ed .”

In an o rd er en t ered J u l y 5 , 2 0 1 6 (“ In t eri m Ord er”), t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed

t h at t h e ad o p t i v e m o t her h ad ad d u ced at t h e T erm i n at i o n H eari n g su ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

t o s at i s fy b o t h O CGA § 1 9-8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ) an d (2 ). Th e t ri al co u rt s et o u t it s un d erl y i n g

fi nd i ng s : t h e b i o l o g ical m o th er h ad n o co n t act wi t h t he ch i l d s i n ce 20 1 4; t hi s l ack o f

co n tact was n o t cau sed b y an y ci rcu m s t an ce bey o n d t he b i o lo g i cal m o t h er’ s co n t ro l

,

5b u t was d u e i n s t ead to h er deci s i o n t o p art ak e in d ru g s, t o l i v e on t h e s t reet s an d in

v ari o u s m o t el s

, an d t o earn m on ey t h ro u g h il leg al act iv i t i es

. In ad d i t i o n, t h e co u rt s et

fo rt h t h at t h e b i o lo g i cal m ot h er h ad b een co u rt -o rd e r e d t o pay ch i l d s u p p o rt

, b ut

ad m i t t ed l y h ad n o t d o n e s o ; a n d th at s u ch fai lu re was s i m i l arl y wi th o u t ju s t i fi ab l e

cau s e, as cert ai n i n g th at t h e b i o l o g i cal m o th er co u l d h av e l eg al l y earn ed m o n ey an d

p ai d ch i l d s u p p o rt o r t h at s h e co u l d h av e p ai d ch i l d s u pp o r t o u t o f her i l l eg al

earn i n g s

. 4 Fi n al l y

, t h e co u rt n o t ed i n t h e In t eri m Ord er t hat t h e Term i n at i o n Heari n g

h a d n o t ad d res s ed th e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld p ro n g

, an d t h u s co ncl u d ed i t s o rd er

wi t h : “ [T] h e Co u rt fi n d s t h at t h ere i s cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce th at th e p aren t al

ri gh t s o f [t h e b i o l og i cal m o t h er] m ay b e t erm i nat ed b u t h o l d s i n ab ey an ce a ru l i n g

u n t i l th ere i s cl ear an d co nv in ci n g e v i d e n ce as t o w hat i s t h e b es t in t eres t o f t h e

ch i l d .”

Co u ns el fo r t he ad o pt i v e m o t h er s ch ed ul ed th e n ex t heari ng

, wh i ch co n v en ed

o n Au g u s t 1 8

, 20 1 6 i n t h e ju d g e’ s ch am b ers

. Th e b io l o g i cal m o t h er was n ot p res en t

(n o r rep res en t ed ). Th ereaft er, t h e c o u r t en t ered ju d g m en t o n Oct o b er 18

, 20 1 6 t h at

g ran t ed t h e ad o p ti v e m o th er’ s p et i t i o n s fo r t erm in at io n an d ad o p t i o n

. It was l at er

4 Th e co u rt ex p res sl y t o o k i n t o acco u nt t h a t t h e bi o l o g i cal m o th er’ s i n i t i al

cred i t wen t t h o u g h m i d -2 0 1 2 . See n o t e 1

, s u p ra.

6d et erm i n ed

, h o w ev er, t h at t h e b io l o g i cal m o t h er h ad n o t b een n o t i f i ed o f t h e i n

ch am b ers h eari n g s

. Th e b i o l o g i cal m o th er, wh o by t h at t im e h ad o b t ai n ed co u n s el

,

fi led a m ot i o n fo r recu sal of th e t ri al ju d g e an d a m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Ru l i n g s t h ereo n

res u l ted i n t h e t ri al ju dg e bei n g d i s q u al i fi ed

, t h e c a s e t ran s ferred

, t h e O ct o b er 1 8,

2 0 1 6 j u d gm en t v acat ed , an d t h e cas e pro ceed i n g wi t h a n ew ev i d en t i ary h eari n g o n

t h e i s s ue o f wh et h er ad o p ti o n was i n t h e ch il d ’ s b es t i n teres t

.

W h en t h e co urt s u b seq u en t l y co n v en ed s u ch h eari n g o n J u ne 2 9

, 2 0 1 7

, t h e

ch i l d ’ s fat h er t o ok t h e s t an d an d rep o rt ed t h at t h e ch i l d h ad tu rn ed 9 y ears o l d , was

g o i n g in t o t h e fo u rt h g rad e, was ex cel l i n g i n s ch oo l

, an d was en jo y i ng p l ay i n g s p o rt s

an d en g ag i n g i n v ari o u s h o b b i es

. He t es t i fi ed t h at h i s wi fe was a g reat m o t h er t o t h e

ch i l d

, h ad s u p p o rt ed t h e ch il d

, t ak en care o f her, h el ped h er wi t h h er h o m ewo rk

, an d

h ad “ ju s t al way s b een th ere.” H e as s ert ed t h at h e v ery m u ch wan ted h i s w i fe t o ad o pt

t h e ch il d

, t h at t h ei r h o m e had t h ree b ed ro o m s an d t wo b at hro o m s

, t h a t t h ey h ad

t ran s po rt at i o n , an d t h at t h ei r fam il y u ni t was fi nan ci al l y

s t ab l e.

Th e ad o p ti v e m o t h er t o o k t h e s t an d. Sh e d es c r i b e d h o w s h e an d t h e ch i l d ’ s

fat h er co o rd i n at ed t h ei r res p ect i v e fu l l -t i m e jo b s t o acco m m o d at e t he ch i l d ’ s n eed s

a n d s ch ed u l e. Sh e det ai l ed t h at s h e ro ut i nel y h el p ed t h e ch i l d wi t h h er h o m ewo rk

,

t h at t he ch i ld was an h o n o r-ro l l s t u den t

, t h at th e ch i l d l o v ed s ch o o l

, t h at sh e h ad m an y

7fri en ds

, an d t h at s h e p art i ci p at ed i n d an ce an d s o ccer. Her ped i at ri c an d d en t al v is i t s

s h o wed t h at s h e w a s a h e al th y ch i l d ; an d sh e was g et t i n g read y fo r b races

. Th e

ad o pt i v e m o t h er fu rt her ex pres s ed t h at b ecau s e o f th ei r y ears t o g et h er, s h e an d t h e

ch i l d en jo y ed a s t ro n g b on d

.

Th e b i o l o gi cal m o t h er al s o t o o k t h e s t an d

. Sh e u p d at ed t h e co u rt t h at s h e h ad

l eft t he reh ab i l i t at i o n p ro gram aft er 1 0 m o n t h s

. Sh e h ad n o t co m p l et ed t h e p ro g ram ;

n o r h ad s h e o bt ai n ed t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt ’s p erm i ss i on t o di sco n t in u e t h e

reh ab i l i t at i o n . Sh e fu rt h er co n ced ed t h at s he h ad u ns u cces sfu l l y t ri ed reh ab i l i t at i o n

a b o u t s i x t i m es b efo re. Sh e h ad l eft t h e m o s t recen t reh ab i l i t at i o n faci l i t y, s h e

ex p lai n ed

, b ecau s e s he h ad b eco m e ro m an ti cal l y i n vo l v ed wi t h a m an s h e h ad s i nce

m arri ed ; s h e was p reg n an t an d ex p ect i ng t o d el iv er t h e b ab y i n ab o u t 6 week s

.

Th e b i o l o g ical m o th er rep o rt ed t h at h er p ro b at i on ary peri o d wo ul d n o t en d fo r

an o th er y ear, b u t t h at s h e rem ai n ed i n co n t act wi t h h er p ro b at i o n o ffi cer i n G eo rg i a.

Sh e rep ort ed t h at sh e had n o t u s ed an y d ru g s s i n ce l eav i n g t h e reh ab i l it at io n p ro g ram

,

an d t h at h er m o s t recen t dru g tes t s h ad been n eg at i ve. A d d i t i o n al l y

, sh e t es t i fi ed

, h er

v o l u n t eeri n g at t h e s en i o r cen ter h ad led t o a p art -t i m e jo b t h ere, w h ere s h e was

as s i s ti n g t h e co ok s an d w o rk i ng w i t h t h e m eal s -o n -wh eel s p ro g ram

. Wh en as k ed

,

8“ [D] o y ou feel at t h i s p oi n t t h at y ou ’ re in a p l ace wh ere y o u ’ d be ab l e t o b e

p ro d uct i v e i n s u p p ort i n g [t h e ch i l d ] ? ” Sh e an s wered , “ Yes .”

Th e r e a f t e r, o n Ju l y 1 4

, 2 0 1 7, th e t ri al co u rt en t ered t h e ju dg m en t t h at i s o n

ap p eal (“ Fi n al Ord er”). Th erei n

, t h e co u rt referen ced t h e In t eri m O rd er, w h i ch fo u n d

t h at t h e ad op t i v e m ot h er h ad ad d u ced s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t hat t h e b i o l og i cal m o t h er

h ad fai l ed

, as co n tem

p l at ed b y OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ) an d (2 ), t o co m m u ni cat e o r

at t em p t t o co m m

u n i c a t e wi t h t h e ch i l d

, an d/ o r t o p ro v i d e fo r t h e ch i l d d u ri n g t h e

rel ev an t p eri o d

. In th e Fi n al Ord er, t h e co u rt wen t o n t o reci te t h at o n J un e 2 9

, 2 0 1 7,

i t h ad co n d u ct ed an ev i d en t iary h eari n g o n w h et h er ad o p t i o n w o u l d b e i n t h e ch i l d ’ s

b es t i n t eres t

. Th e co u rt t h en s et o u t t h es e fi n d in g s o f fact s t h at i t co n cl u d ed am o u n t ed

t o c l e ar an d co n v i n ci n g ev id en ce t h at g ran t i n g t he ad o p t i ve m o t h er’ s p et i t i o n s was

i n t he ch i l d ’ s b es t in t eres t : t h e ch i l d ’ s fat her an d ad o p t i ve m o t h er w ere m arri ed ; t h ey

b o t h wo rk ed an d were fi n an ci al l y s t ab l e; t h e ch i l d was i n g o o d h eal t h

, d o in g wel l in

s ch o ol

, an d was wel l ad

ju st ed ; t h e ch i l d h ad a st ro n g b o nd wi t h t h e ad op t i v e m o t h er;

t h e ad o p t i v e m o th er was cap ab l e o f p ro v i d i n g t h e ho m e t h at t he ch i l d s h ou l d h av e;

an d t h e ad o p t iv e m o t h er was p h y s i c a l l y

, m en tal l y

, fi n an ci al ly

, an d i n al l o t h er

m an n ers a fi t an d pro p er p ers o n t o ad o pt t h e ch i l d

. Th e co u rt t h u s g ran t ed t h e

9ad o pt i v e m o t h er’ s pet i t i o n s, t h ereb y al l o wi n g h er to ad o p t th e ch i l d

. T hi s ap p eal

en s u ed

.

1

. Po in t i n g t o h er p ro s e p a r t i ci p at io n i n t h e Term in at io n Heari n g

, t h e

b i o l o g i cal m o t h er cl ai m s th at s h e h ad b een “ u n aware t h at s h e co u l d req u es t co u n s el

as an i n d i g en t an d wo u l d hav e m o s t l i k el y qu al i fi ed h ad s h e k n o wn s he n eed ed t o.”

Sh e t h u s c h a r g e s t h e t ri al co u rt wi th erro r by fai l i n g t o i n fo rm h er o f h er “ ri g h t to

co u ns el ” u n der OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2

.

Th at Co d e s ect i o n p ro v i des t h at “ [a] ch i l d an d an y o t h er p art y t o a pro ceed i n g

u n d er t h i s a r ti cl e [referri ng t o t h e Term i n at i o n o f Paren t al Ri g ht s A rt i cl e wi t h i n t h e

J u v en i l e C o d e] s h al l hav e t h e ri g h t t o an at t o rn ey at al l s t ag es o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s

u n d er t h i s art i cl e.” (Em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-2 6 2 (a). Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h at

Co d e s ect i o n p ro v id es th at “ [a] p art y o t her t h an a ch i l d s h al l b e in fo rm ed of h i s o r h er

ri gh t t o an at t orn ey p ri o r t o t h e ad ju d i cat i o n h eari n g an d p ri o r t o an y o t h er h eari n g at

wh i ch a p art y co u l d b e s u b ject ed t o t he l o ss o f res i d u al p aren t al ri g h ts .” OCGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -2 62 (j). See g en eral l y In t h e In t er es t o f B. R. F

. , 2 99 Ga. 2 94

, 2 9 4

, n

. 1

. (7 8 8 SE2 d

4 1 6 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Th e ap p o i n t m en t o f co u n s el i n a t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s

p r o c e e d i n g i s n o w co d i fi ed at OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -2 6 2 as p art o f t he n ew J u v en i l e

Co d e.”); Ni

x v. Dep t

. o

f H u m a n Res o u r ces

, 2 3 6 Ga. 79 4

, 79 5 (2 2 5 SE2 d 3 0 6 ) (1 9 7 6 )

10(n o t i ng t hat t h e J u ven i l e Co d e “ p ro v i d es th at a p are n t i s en ti t l ed t o h av e co u n s el

ap p oi n t ed t o rep res en t t hat p aren t i n t h e [t erm i n at i o n ] p ro ceed i n g i f co u ns el can n ot

b e em p l oy ed wi th o u t u n d u e fi nan ci al h ard s hi p ”).

Ho wev er, i n Jo h n s o n v. Ha u ck

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 48 (8 12 SE2 d 3 0 3 ) (2 0 1 8 ), t h i s

Co u rt cl ari fi ed t h at t h e r i g ht t o co u n sel p ro v i d ed b y OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2 d o es n ot

ex t en d to ad o p t i on p ro ceed i n g s p u rs u ed

, as i n t h e i n s t an t cas e, un d er OCGA § 1 9 -8

-

1 0

.

Geo rg i a’ s l eg is l at u re h as m an d at ed t h at

, i n t e r m i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g s

co n d u ct ed u nd er t h e J u v en i l e Co d e, an i nd i gen t p aren t h as a st at ut o ry

ri gh t t o ap p o i n t ed co un s el

. S e e O C G A § 1 5-1 1 -2 62 (a) (“ A ch i ld an d

an y o t h er p art y t o a p ro ceed i n g u n d er t hi s art i cl e s h al l h av e t h e ri gh t t o

a n a t t o rn ey at al l st ag es o f th e p ro ceed i n g s u n d er t h i s art i cl e.”).

. .

[H] o wev er, t h at s am e s t at ut o ry p ro t ect i on was n o t ex t en d ed t o an

i n d i gen t p aren t i n ad op t i o n p ro ceed i n g s co n d uct ed p u rs u an t t o OCGA

§ 1 9 -8 -1 0

, des p i te t h e fact t h at t h o s e p ro ceed i n g s m ay u l t i m at el y en d i n

t h e t erm i n at i o n o f h i s o r h er p aren t al ri gh t s

. See OCGA § 19 -8 -1 et seq

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Jo h ns o n , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p . 8 5 4 (2 ). 5

5 No t ab l y

, OCGA § 1 9-8 -1 0 (c) p ro v i d es t h a t a p a r en t “ m ay ap pear i n t h e

p en di n g ad o p t i o n act io n an d s h o w cau s e wh y su ch paren t ’ s ri g h t s t o t h e ch i l d s o u g ht

t o b e ad o p t e d i n t h a t act i o n s h o u ld n o t b e t erm in at ed b y th at ad op t i o n ”; b u t t h at

s t at u to ry p ro v i s io n d o es n o t g o o n t o es t ab l i s h t he ri g h t t o ap po i n t ed co u ns el fo r an

i n d i g en t p aren t i n t h e m an n er o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2 (rel i ed u p o n b y th e bi o l o g i cal

m o th er).

11As t h i s Co u rt fu rt h er res o l v ed i n J o h n s o n

, “ [t ] h e p ro pri et y of t hat l eg i s l at i v e

d eci s i o n is n o t fo r t hi s Co u rt t o d eci d e. See g en eral l y Co mmo n wea l t h In ves tmen t Co

.

v. Fr ye

, 2 1 9 Ga. 49 8

, 4 9 9 ( 1 3 4 S E 2 d 3 9 ) (1 9 6 3 ) (“ [T] h e l eg i s l at u re, an d n o t t h e

co u rt s

, is em

p owered b y t h e Co n s t i t u t i o n t o d eci d e p u bl i c p o l i cy

, an d t o i m p l em en t

t h at p ol i cy b y en act i ng laws .”).” Jo h n s o n

, 34 4 G a. Ap p

. a t 8 54 (2 ). In l i g h t o f t h e

fo reg o i n g

, t h e bi o l o g i cal m ot her’ s co n t en t i on

– h i n g ed o n t h e ap pl i cab i l i t y of OCGA

§ 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2

– fai ls

. “ Si n ce t h e ad op t i o n s t at u t es d o n o t req u i re t h e ap p oi n t i n g o f an

at t o rn ey fo r t h e [p aren t ]

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n fai li n g t o [ad v i s e t h e bi o l o g i cal

m o th er as t o an y ri g ht s t o b e] ap p o i n t[ed ] an at t o rn ey p u rs uan t t o [OCGA § 1 5

- 1 1

-

2 6 2 ] .” Ar r i n g t o n v. Ha n d , 1 9 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 5 7 , 4 5 8 (4 ) (3 88 SE2 d 5 2 ) (1 9 8 9 ). 6

2

. Th e b i o l o g i cal m o t h er m ai n t ai ns t h at t h e t ri al ju dg e en gag ed i n ex p art e

co m m u n icat io ns d u ri n g t h a t i n -ch am b ers h eari n g (aft er wh i ch t h at ju d g e en t ered

ju d g m en t p u rp o rt ed l y g ran t i n g t h e ad o pt i v e m o t her’ s p et i t i o n s fo r term i n at i o n an d

ad o pt i o n ). T h e b i o l o g i cal m o t her ci t es t h at s he was n o t g iv en n o t i ce o f t h at h eari n g

6 Acco rd In t h e In t er es t o f B. R

. F

. , 29 9 Ga. at 29 7 (“ Th e t erm i n at i o n o f

p aren t al ri g h t s i s a ci v i l m at ter. Ci vi l l i t ig an t s t y pi cal l y d o n o t en

j o y a co n s t i t u t i o n al

ri gh t t o co u n s el .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ); D eKa l b Co u n t y v. Ad ams

, 2 7 2 Ga. 4 0 1

, 4 0 3 (2 )

(5 2 9 SE2 d 6 1 0 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (reas on i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt “ was n o t au t h o ri zed t o ap p o i nt

co u ns el t o rep res en t an i n d i g en t ci v i l p et i t io n er ab sen t a s tat u t o ry o r co n s t i t u t i o n al

p ro v is i o n t o co m

p el pay m en t wi t h St at e o r co un t y fu n d s ”).

12an d w as n ei t h er p res en t n o r rep res en t ed

. Sh e as s ert s t h at s h e h ad a ri gh t t o b e affo rd ed

o p p o rt u ni t y t o b e p res en t at th at h eari n g

, b ecau s e at t h at t i m e, n o ord er t erm i n at i n g

h er p aren t al ri g h ts h ad b een en tered

. Bu t g i ven rem ed i al act i o n s tak en i n res p o n s e to

t h e b i o l o g i cal m ot h er’ s m o ti o n s fo r recu s al an d fo r n ew t ri al

, we fi nd n o rev ers i b l e

erro r.

Th e reco rd rev ea l s t h at t h e b i o l og i cal m o t h er rai sed th i s p reci s e is s u e i n a

m o ti o n seek i n g recu sal o f t h at ju d g e. W h en t h at recu sa l m o t i o n w as as s i g n ed t o a

d i fferen t ju d g e, t h e as s ig n ed ju d g e h el d a heari n g

, t h en en tered an o rd er fi n d i n g t h es e

fact s:

[T] h e t ri al ju d g e [i n q u es t i o n ] rel i ed u po n t he [ad o pt i v e m o t h er’ s ]

at t o rn ey t o no t i fy t h e [b i o l o g i cal m o t h er] o f t h e [i n -ch am b ers ] h eari n g

.

Al t h ou g h t h e [ad o p t iv e m o t h er’ s ] at t o r n ey fai l ed t o do s o

, he

i m m ed i at el y t oo k co rrect i v e a c t i o n wh en he real i zed t he fai l u re b y

i n fo rm i n g t h e t ri al ju d g e an d h av i n g t h e h eari n g res et

.

Th e as s i g n ed ju d g e th en as cert ai n ed t h at t h e fai lu re t o g i v e n o t i ce was “ i n ad v ert en t ,”

b u t n ev ert h el es s r u l ed th at t h e i n -ch am b ers h eari n g am o u n t ed t o ex p art e

co m m u n icat ions an d th at : “ [T] h e M o t i o n t o Recu s e i s h ereb y GRANTED an d t h e t ri al

ju d g e i s h ereb y Di sq u al i fi ed fro m p res i di n g o v e r an y fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s i n t h i s

13m at t er.” Acco rd i n g l y

, t he i n s t a n t cas e was t r a n sf er r ed t o a d i fferen t ju d g e fo r

d eci s i o n o n t h e b i o l o g ical m ot h er’ s t h en p en d i ng m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

.

A t t h i s p o in t i n th e p ro ceed i n g s b el o w, as m en t i o n ed ab ov e, t h e ju d g e i n

q u es ti o n h ad al read y en t ered ju d g m en t o n Oct o ber 1 8

, 20 1 6 g ran t i n g th e ad o p t i v e

m o t h e r’ s p et it io n s

. So i n h er m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e b i o l o g ical m o t h er as s ert ed

ag ai n t h at t h e i n -ch am

bers h eari n g h ad d ep ri ved h er o f h er ri g h t t o p art ici p at e fai rl y

i n t hi s m at t er; an d s h e ex p l i ci t ly req u es t ed t h at t h e Oct o b er 1 8

, 2 0 16 ju d g m en t b e s et

as i d e a n d t h a t s h e be g ran t ed a n ew t ri al

. Aft er a heari n g

, th e t ri al co u rt en t ered an

o rd er recap p i n g t h at th e bi o l o g i cal m o t h er’ s m o t i o n to recu s e h ad b een gran t ed

, t h at

t h e i n i t ial p res i d i n g ju d g e was t h en d i s qu al i fi ed fro m p res i d i n g o v er an y fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s

, an d t h at t he cas e h ad acco rd i n g l y been t ran sferred

. Tu rn i n g t o t he m eri t s

o f t h e n ew t ri al m o t i on

, t h e t ri al co u rt : (i ) v acat ed t h e Oct o ber 1 8, 2 0 1 6 ju d g m en t ; 7

(i i) ru l ed t h at t h e In t eri m

Ord er (en t ered p ri o r t o t h e i n ch am b ers h eari n g ) was “ n ot

v acat ed an d rem ai n s i n effect ”; an d (i i i ) an n o u n ced t h at a n ew ev i d en t i ary h eari n g o n

t h e b es t i nt eres t o f t h e ch i ld wo ul d b e h el d

. A n d as t h e reco rd co n fi rm s

, s uch h eari n g

was co nd u ct ed o n Ju n e 2 9

, 2 0 1 7

, aft er w h i ch th e t ri al co urt en t ered t h e Fi n al Ord er.

7 See Pr a ter v. S t a t e

, 2 22 Ga. A p p

. 48 6

, 4 8 8 (4 7 4 SE2 d 6 84 ) (1 9 9 6) (“ In ci v i l

cas es , o rd ers i m

pro perl y ren dered wi t h o u t n o t i ce o r t h e o p po rt u ni t y t o b e h eard are

‘ nu g at o ry ’ o r a n u l l i t y .”).

14At t h i s ju nct u re, th e b i o l o g i cal m o th er co n t en d s t h at th e h an dl i n g o f t h e ex

p art e co m m u ni cat i o n s d i d n o t g o far en o u gh

, i n s i s t i n g t h at sh e was en t i t l ed t o a n ew

t ri al o n al l m at t ers . Th e b i o l o g ical m o t h er h as n o t , h o wev er, s u p p o rt ed h er p o s i t i o n

wi t h an y au t h o ri ty m an d at i n g fu rt h er rel i ef; an d we fi n d n on e. Th e ju dg e w h o ru l ed

o n t h e recu s al m o t io n as cert ai n ed t h at t h e fai lu re t o g i v e n o t i ce t o t h e bi o l o g i cal

m o th er h ad b een i n ad v ert en t

. N e v e r t h el es s

, t h e j u d ge i n q ues t i o n was d i s qu al i fi ed

,

t h e Oct o b er 1 8

, 2 0 1 6 j u d gm en t (en t ered b y t h at ju d g e) was v acat ed

, t h e cas e was

t ran s ferred

, an d a n ew ev i d en t i ary h eari n g o n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t was co n d u ct ed

(b y a d i fferen t ju d g e). Th ere i s n o d i s p u t e t h at t he b i o l o g i cal m ot h er h ad am p l e n o t i ce

o f t h at heari n g

, an d t h e reco rd co n fi rm s t h at s h e ap p eared wi t h c o u n s el

. W h i l e t h e

In t er i m O rd er was l eft i n effect

, t h at o rd er was en t ered bef o r e t h e i n -ch am

b ers

h eari n g ; an d t h at en t ry w as m ad e o nl y aft er a fu l l ev i d en t i ary h eari n g (Term i n at i o n

Heari n g ) at wh i ch t h e b i o l o g i cal m ot h er ap p eared an d was affo rd ed o p p o rt u n i t y t o b e

h eard

. In d eed

, t h e In t er i m Ord er cl earl y s p eci fi ed t he ev i d en ce un d erl y i n g t h e

d et erm i n at i o n t h at ci rcu m s t an ces co n t em p lat ed b y OCGA § 1 9-8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ) an d (2 )

h ad b een d em o n s trat ed b y t h e a d o p t i v e m o t her

– an d n o n e o f t hat ev i den ce co u ld

h av e s tem m ed fro m

t h e (s u b s eq u en t ) i n -ch am b ers h eari n g

.

15Gi v en t h e fo reg oi n g

, t h e b i o l og i cal m o t h er h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t h e i n

ch am b ers h eari n g m an dat ed rel i ef bey o n d t h at g ran t ed b y t h e ru l i n g s on m o t i o n s fo r

recu s al an d fo r new tri al

. 8 See Ivey v. Ivey

, 2 6 4 Ga

. 4 3 5, 4 3 8 (3 ) (4 4 5 SE2 d 2 5 8 )

(1 9 9 4) (reject i n g fo r l ack of h arm a fat h er’ s co m p l ai n t t h at th e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered

ex p art e co m

m u ni cat i o n s in ru l i ng o n cu s t o d y

, b ecau s e a l t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt

ad m i t t ed l y recei v ed n u m ero u s l et t ers an d t el ep h on e cal l s fro m b o t h o f t h e p aren t s ’

fri en ds an d rel at i v es re g a r d i n g t h ei r res p ect i v e p aren t i ng ab il i ti es

, t h e t ri al co u rt

cl earl y s p eci fi ed t h e ev i d en ce t h at i t rel i ed u p o n in d eci d in g cu s t o d y

, an d t h ere was

“ n o i n d i cat i o n i n t h e reco rd t hat t h e t ri al co u rt g av e an y co n s i d erat i on t o t h e ex p art e

co m m u n i c a t i o n s ”); Ar n au v. Ar n a u

, 2 0 7 Ga. A pp

. 6 96

, 6 9 7 (1 ) (4 2 9 SE2 d 1 1 6 )

( 1 9 9 3 ) (rev ers i n g fi n al o rd er t erm i n at i n g fat h er’ s v is i t at i on ri gh t s

, wh ere aft er tri al

o n t h e m eri t s o f t h e m o th er’ s m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d an ex p art e

m eet i n g wi t h a tri al wi t n es s ; y et l eav i n g i n t act an in t eri m co n s en t o rd er en t ered by

8 Th e b i o l o g i cal m ot her s u g g es t s i n h er bri ef t h at s o m e o t h e r e x p art e

co m m u n icat io n o ccu rred

. W i th res p ect t o t h i s s u g g es t i o n, h o wev er, s h e h as p ro v i d ed

n o rel ev an t reco rd ci t e, h as g i v en n o i n d i cat i o n as t o wh at m i g h t h av e b een s ai d an d

u n d er wh at ci rcu m s t an ces

, an d h as p ro v i d ed n o l eg al an al y s i s

. To t h e ex t en t t h e

s u g g es t i o n was i n t en ded t o b e a cl ai m o f erro r, i t i s deem ed ab an d o ned

. See Ga r d n er

v. St a t e

, 2 8 9 G a. Ap p

. 3 5 9, 35 9 -3 6 0 (6 5 7 SE2 d 2 8 8 ) (2 00 8 ) (d eem i n g as ab an d o n ed

cl ai m s o f erro r n o t su p p ort ed b y ci tat i o n t o t h e reco rd

, ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y o r

arg u m en t ); Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ).

16t h at t ri al c o u r t ) ; S t i n ch co mb v. S t at e

, 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p. 8, 10 (3 8 3 SE2 d 6 09 ) (1 9 8 9 )

(ex p l ai n i n g t h at an y t ech n i cal v i o l at i o n o f t he ru l e ag ai n s t ex p art e co m m u n i cat i on s

d i d n o t co n s t i t u t e g ro u n d fo r rev ers al o f co n vi ct io n s, w h ere t ri al ju d g e at is s u e s t at ed

t h at th e co m

p l ai ned -o f ex p art e co m

m u n i cat i o n wi t h t h e as si s t an t d i st ri ct at t o rn ey d id

n o t i n cl u de an y d i s cu s s i on o n t h e m eri t s o r fact s o f t h e cas e). Cf. S t a t e v. W a kef i el d

,

3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 7

, 59 4-5 95 (2 ) (c) (7 5 1 SE2 d 1 9 9 (2 0 1 3) (ex p lai n i n g t h at d efen d an t s

were en t i t l ed t o n ew t ri al

, wh ere t h e p res i di n g j u d ge sh o ul d h av e s u a s po n t e recu s ed

fro m each t ri al as a res u l t o f h i s s ex u al rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t h e p u b l i c defen d er

rep res en t i n g ei t h er t h e d efen d an t s o r t h ei r co -d efen d an t s ).

3

. F i n al l y

, th e b i o l o g ical m o t h er ch al l en ges th e Fi n al Ord er o n g ro u n d s t h a t :

(a) t he tri al c o u r t fai l ed t o m ak e ex p res s fi nd i n g s o f fact ; an d (b ) t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t

.

(a) Exp r es s f

i n d i n g s o f f a c t

. “ In al l cas es w h erei n Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -8 -1 0 i s

rel i ed u p o n b y an y p et i t i on er as a b as i s fo r th e term i n at i o n o f paren t al ri g h t s

, t h e co u rt

s h al l i n cl u d e i n t h e d ecree o f ad o p t i on ap p ro p ri at e fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i on s

o f l aw rel at i ng t o t h e ap pl i cab il i t y o f Co d e Sect i on 1 9 -8 -1 0 .” OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 8 (b ).

Acco rd in g ly

, a ju d g m en t t erm i n at i n g paren tal r ights a nd gr a ntin g an ad o p t i on p et i t i o n

“ m u s t p res en t m o re th an a m ere l eg al co n cl u s i o n w h i ch i s n o t s u p p o r t e d b y

17m an d at o ry fi n d i ng s o f fact

, o r a d ry reci t at i o n t h e cert ai n l eg al req ui rem en t s h av e

b een m et

. ” S

au l s v. At ch i s o n

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 9 5-7 9 6 (2 ) (7 3 0 SE2 d 4 59 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e ad o p ti o n d ecree l ack ed req u i s i t e fi n d in g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i on s

o f l aw, g i v en t h e “ ab s en ce o f a n y s p eci fi c fi nd i ng s o f fact t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

r e c i t a t i o n o f t he lan g u ag e of t h e s t at u t e”) (em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ); s ee Ma yn a r d v.

Br o wn

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p. 2 2 9

, 2 3 0 -2 3 1 (6 2 2 SE2 d 9 0 1 ) (2 0 05 ) (ex pl ai n i n g t h at t h e

ad o pt i o n d ecree l ack ed req u is i t e fi n d i n g s o f fact s an d co n cl us i o n s o f l aw, wh ere

“ d ecree s t at [ed ] i n p ert i n en t p art o n ly t h at ‘ Pet i ti o n er has co m p l i ed wi t h al l

fo rm al i t i es o f l aw, th e b io l o g i cal fat h er h as h ad n o co n t act wi t h t h e m i n o r ch i l d fo r

at l eas t t wo y ears

, an d t h at s ai d p ro po s ed ad o p t i on i s i n t h e b e s t i n t eres t o f t h e

ch i l d ’ ”).

Here, t h e b i o l o g i cal m o t h er m ak es a bare as s ert i o n th at t h e Fi n al Ord er fai l ed

t o p ro v i de sp eci fi c fi n d i n g s o f fact s as t o t h e ch i l d ’ s bes t i nt eres t

. 9 Bu t o u r rev i ew o f

t h e Fi n al Ord er, wh i ch we h av e d et ai l ed ab o v e, co n fi rm s t h at t h i s cl ai m l ack s m eri t

.

Th e b io l o g i cal m o t h er h as m i s pl aced rel i an ce o n Del l v. Del l

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 7

, 3 0 1

(1 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 7 0 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (d et erm i n i n g t h at t h e o rd er t erm in at i n g p aren t al ri g h t s was

9 Th e bi ol o g i cal m o t h er m ak es no cl ai m t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o s et fo rt h

fact ual fi n d i n g s as t o t h e o th er fact o rs req u i red b y OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ) an d / o r (2 ).

18faci al l y defi ci en t b ecau s e, am o n g o t h er reas o n s

, t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at

ad o pt i o n was i n t h e ch i l d ’ s bes t i n t eres t “ l ack ed p art i cu lari t y ”). See gen eral l y Ra y v.

Den to n

, 27 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9

, 72 -7 3 (2 ) (6 2 8 SE2 d 1 8 0) (2 0 06 ) (reject i n g co nt en t i o n t h at

ad o pt i o n d ecree was faci al ly d efi ci en t

, wh ere t h e d ecree co n t ai n ed s p eci fi c fi n d i ng s

o f fact rel at i n g t o t h e co nt es t ed el em en t ).

(b ) S u ff i ci en cy o f t h e evi d en ce

.

On ap p eal o f a d eci s i o n t erm i n at i n g p aren t al ri gh t s, we d et erm in e

wh et h e r a f

t e r v iewi n g th e ev id en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e

ap p el l ee, an y ra t i o n al t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d b y cl ear an d

c onvinc i n g ev i den ce th at t h e n at ural p aren t ’ s ri g h t s t o cu s t o d y h av e b een

l o s t

. W e d efer t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi nd i n g s u n l es s t h e cl ear an d

co n v i n ci n g s t an d ard i s n o t m et

. In m at t ers o f ad o p t io n

, t h e s u p eri o r

c o u r t has a very b ro ad d i s cret i o n wh i ch wi l l n ot b e co n t ro l l ed b y th e

ap p el l at e co urt s ex cep t i n cas es o f p l ai n ab u s e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ra y , 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7 0 (1 ).

Th e b i o l o g ical m o t h e r cl ai m s t h at s h e pres en t ed ev id en ce o f h er reco v ery

,

em pl o y m en t

, an d o veral l pro gres s in refo rm i n g h er l i fe; s h e cl ai m s t h at t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce t h at sh e wo u l d n ot b e ab l e t o p ro v id e fo r t h e ch i l d s u ffi ci en t l y ; an d s h e

cl ai m s th at an y ev i den ce fav o rab l e t o t h e ad op t i v e m o th er s ho wed m erel y t h at t h e

19ad o pt i v e m o t h er co u l d p ro v i d e t h e ch i l d wi th b et t er fi n an ci al

, ed u cat i o n , an d m o ral

ad v an t ag es . Th es e cl ai m s are u n av ai l i n g

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o r a b l e t o t h e ad o p ti v e m o t h er, t h e ev i d en ce

au t h o ri zed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s det erm i n at i o n t h at

, wi t h i n th e m ean i n g o f OCGA § 1 9 -8

-

1 0 (b ), t h e b i o l o g ical m o th er h ad fai led

, fo r t h e req u i s it e peri od an d wi t h o ut

ju s t ifi cat i o n

, t o : (1 ) co m

m u n icat e o r at t em

p t t o co m m u n i cat e wi th t h e ch i l d ; an d / o r

(2 ) p ro v i d e fo r t h e care an d s u p p o rt o f t h e ch i l d.

J u s t ifi ab l e cau s e fo r t h e fa i l u r e t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt m ay b e fo u n d i n

s i tu at i o n s wh ere t h e paren t h as b een u n ab l e t o earn i nco m e d u e t o

i n carcerat i o n

, m en t al i l l n es s

, m en tal i n cap aci t y

, h o s p it al i z a ti o n, o r o t h er

ci rcu m s t an ces bey o n d h i s o r h er co n t ro l

. Each cas e m u s t b e d eci d ed o n

i t s o wn ci rcu m s t an ces

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) In th e In t er es t o f M a r ks

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 9

, 2 4 5

(2 ) (b ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 6 4) (2 00 9 ).

It was fo r t he tri al co u rt

, an d n o t fo r t h e ap pel l at e co urt

, t o as s es s th e

c r ed i b i l i t y o f t h e wi t n es s es an d res o l v e co n tes t ed fact u al i s su es

. T h e t ria l

co u rt i s v es t ed wi th s i gn i fi can t d i s cret i o n i n m ak in g t h e d et erm i nat i o n

as t o wh et h er t h e p aren t’ s fai l u re t o co m m u n i cat e wi t h t h e ch i l d [an d / o r

fai l u re t o p ro v i d e care an d s u p p o rt ] i s ex cu s ab le.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) S a u l s , 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p . at 3 0 5 (2 ) (a).

20“ W i t h reg ard t o th e b es t i n t eres t t es t i n ad o p t i o n cas es

, t h e t ri al co u rt h as v ery

b r o a d d i s c ret i on w i t h wh i ch t hi s Co urt wi l l n o t i n terfere ex cep t i n cas es o f p l a i n

ab u se.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ra y , 3 23 Ga. Ap p. at 4 9 (2 ). “ If t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o

s u p p ort t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g t h at t h e ad o p t i on i s i n th e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

, s u ch

fi nd i ng wi l l be affi rm ed .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) McCu rr y v. Ha r d i n g

,

2 7 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 6

, 4 2 0 (4 ) (6 0 6 SE2 d 6 3 9 ) (2 0 04 ). Des p i t e t he b i o l o g i cal m o t h er’ s

ch aract eri zat i o n o f t h e e v i d en ce, we are req u i red t o v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab le t o t h e ad o p t i v e m o t h er. Hav i n g d o n e s o

, we fi n d n o ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. See Jo h n s o n v. Ta yl o r

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 4, 3 5 8 -3 5 9 (3 ) (6 6 5 SE2 d 4 9 )

(2 0 0 8) (d et erm i n i n g t h at ev id en ce au t h o ri zed fi n d in g th at s tep fat h er’ s ad op t i o n was

i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

, wh ere t h e b i o l o gi cal fat h er had “ very li m i ted ” co n t act wi th

t h e ch i l d an d p ro v i d ed “ vi rt ual l y n o fi n an ci al o r p aren t al s u p p o rt ” fo r t h e ch i l d fo r at

l eas t o n e y ear preced i n g t h e fi l i n g of t h e ad op t i o n p et i t io n

, an d w h ere t h e s t ep fat h er

h ad m ean wh i l e b een in vo l v ed in t h e ch i ld ’ s d ai l y l i fe by p art i ci pat i ng in h i s act i v i t i es

,

t each i n g h im s ki l l s

, an d g en eral l y fu n ct i o n i n g as a l ov i n g

, co ncern ed p aren t an d t h e

s t ep fat h e r h ad fi n an ci al l y s up p o rt ed t h e ch i l d an d d em o n s trat ed h i s ab il i ty t o d o s o

i n t he fu t u re); M

cCu rr y

, 2 70 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 20 (4 ) (d et erm i n i n g t h at ev i d e n c e

au t h o ri zed fi n d i n g tha t s tep fat h er’ s ad o p t i o n was i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres t

, wh ere

21t h ei r b i o l o g i cal fat h er had fai l ed t o co n t act o r s u p p o rt t h em fo r a p eri o d l o n g er t h an

o n e y ear p ri o r t o t h e fi l i n g o f t h e ad o p t io n p et i ti o n

, an d w h e r e t h e s t ep fat h er h ad

m e a n wh i l e h el d jo b s an d p ro v i d ed fo r t he ch i l d ren ’ s fi n an ci al need s an d h ad al s o

d ev el o p ed wi t h t h e ch i l d ren a cl o s e, l o v i ng rel at i on s h i p ).

Th e bi o l o g i cal m o t h er’ s ch al l en g e t o t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce i s wi t h o ut

m e r i t. See, e. g

., Ra

y

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 0 -7 2 (1 ) (affi rm i n g ju d g m en t t erm i n a t i n g a

b i o l o g i cal fat h er’ s p aren t al ri gh t s an d al l o wi n g s t ep fat h e r’ s ad op t i o n p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0

, wh ere t h e bi ol o g i cal fat h er m ad e n o ch il d s u pp o rt p ay m en t s fo r t h e

o n e y ear i m

m ed i at el y b efo re t h e fi l i n g o f t h e p et i t i o n

, an d

, wh i l e t h e fat h e r w a s

i n carcerat ed fo r a p art o f t hat p eri o d

, t h e su p po rt p ay m en t s w ere s p o rad i c ev en b efo re

t h e i n carcerat i on

, an d w h ere t h e ad o p t iv e p aren t an d t h e c h i l d w e r e cl o s e an d t h e

ad o pt i v e p aren t was cap ab l e an d wi l l i n g t o tak e p aren t al res p o ns i b i l it y o f t h e ch i l d ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. Rees e, J., co n c u rs f u l l y

. McMi l l i a n

, J., co n cu r s f u l ly in

Di vi s i o n s 1 , 2 , a n d

3 (b ), a n d i n j u d g men t o n l y i n Di vi s i o n 3 (a

) .*

* DI V I SI ON 3 (a ) OF TH I S OPI NI ON I S PHYSI CAL P RECEDENT ONLY.

SEE COURT OF APPEALS RULE 3 3.2 (a ).

22