Case Name: D.J.M., the natural father of E.K.M., a child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee; D.J.M., the natural, father of G.N.M., child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1994-03-30
Citations: 634 So. 2d 260
Docket Number: Nos. 93-3944, 93-3945
Parties: D.J.M., the natural father of E.K.M., a child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee. D.J.M., the natural, father of G.N.M., child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee.
Judges: BOOTH, ALLEN and WEBSTER, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 634
Pages: 260–261

Head Matter:
D.J.M., the natural father of E.K.M., a child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee. D.J.M., the natural, father of G.N.M., child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee.
Nos. 93-3944, 93-3945.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
March 30, 1994.
Daniel S. Brim, Fernandina Beach, for appellant.
No response by appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The appellant challenges adjudicatory and disposition orders entered in juvenile dependency proceedings, asserting that the court did not comply with its obligations under Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.320, in connection with the right to counsel. Although the appellant was initially accompanied by an attorney who was representing him in a separate matter, the court recognized that this attorney was not serving as counsel in these dependency proceedings. The appellant remained unrepresented through the further course of these proceedings, and the court failed to adequately advise the appellant as to the right to counsel or to ascertain whether the appellant fully understood this right. Such noncompliance with the mandate in the rule requires reversal.
The appealed orders are reversed and the cause is remanded.
BOOTH, ALLEN and WEBSTER, JJ., concur.