Opinion ID: 2626921
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: july permanency hearing

Text: ¶9 After Judge Valdez extended reunification services at the April Permanency Hearing but before the case was resolved, he recused himself because criminal charges had been filed against his son in connection with an altercation that occurred outside the courthouse between the son and protestors during the April Permanency Hearing. Judge Elizabeth Lindsley was assigned to the case in Judge Valdez's place and held another permanency hearing in July 2005 (the July Permanency Hearing). Between the two permanency hearings, visitation between Mother and the children had resumed, but most of the children were still in their foster homes. The eldest son, K.K., and one of the other boys, Ja.K., had been returned to Mother's custody. But the eldest child, S.K., had filed an affidavit and motion to change her permanency goal from reunification with Mother to permanent custody or adoption. And A.K.'s permanency goal had been modified to guardianship with a concurrent goal of adoption. ¶10 The July Permanency Hearing was held on July 18, 21, and 22, 2005. During this three-day hearing, Judge Lindsley took evidence from both sides regarding whether it would be safe to return the children to Mother's custody. She also took judicial notice of the transcripts from the April Permanency Hearing. The children's therapists, Mother, and Mother's therapists testified, and Judge Lindsley interviewed each of the children individually in her chambers, as Judge Valdez had previously done. Judge Lindsley's interviews of the children were recorded and were held in the presence of counsel. Judge Lindsley also reviewed affidavits given by S.K. and A.K. and other evidence regarding events that had occurred between the two permanency hearings. ¶11 As in the April Permanency Hearing, much of the testimony at the July Permanency Hearing focused on the degree to which Mother had acknowledged past instances of abuse and the negative effects that a failure to acknowledge such past instances would have on the children's safety. There was also evidence presented, however, regarding Mother's behavior since the April Permanency Hearing and the children's reactions to the resumption of visitation with Mother. ¶12 After the July Permanency Hearing, Judge Lindsley made an oral ruling on August 23, 2005, and then entered a written Permanency Order on October 27, 2005. In the written permanency order, Judge Lindsley made the following findings: 1. Reasonable efforts have been made by DCFS to finalize the permanency plan for the children which has been to return home. DCFS, Mr. Giles and Mr. Madsen are to be commended for their efforts. This finding of fact is made by clear and convincing evidence. 2. [Mother] is in substantial compliance with court orders and the service plan. 3. It is safe to return [Ma.K., Me.K., Je.K., Ki.K., Mi.K., and R.K.] to the custody of [Mother], provided family preservation services are provided to the family. 4. [Mother] has an appropriate home for the children. 5. [Mother] has followed through with the services required of her by the court and necessary for the return of her children. These services were different from the ones that had previously been provided by DCFS. The special tailoring of the YWCA group by DCFS and the court, and the specifics with the peer parent were above and beyond reasonable. Mr. Giles and Mr. Madsen worked hard on this case in providing services to this family. Judge Lindsley therefore ordered the following: 1. Custody and guardianship of the children, with the exception of [S.K. and A.K.][,] are returned to [Mother]. The children, with the exception of [S.K. and A.K.][,] shall be returned forthwith. 2. DCFS shall provide family preservation services to [Mother] and the children in her custody. [Mother] and the children in her custody shall cooperate and participate in the services. . . . . . . . 4. [Mother] shall continue to attend and participate with her classes and parenting therapy . . . . . . . . 7. [Father] shall have no contact of any sort with the children. He is not to speak, communicate with, or approach the children. If the children approach him, he is not to speak to them or any one of them. [Father and Mother] are responsible for enforcing this provision. ¶13 On behalf of all of the children except A.K., S.K., and Ke.K., the GAL appealed Judge Lindsley's permanency order to the court of appeals, which then certified this case to us prior to final judgment. Before certifying the case to us, however, the court of appeals directed the parties to brief the finality of the permanency order for purposes of appellate review. ¶14 The GAL maintains that the permanency order was final because the order granted permanent custody of all of the children but A.K. and S.K. to Mother. It argues that Judge Lindsley erred in awarding custody of the children to Mother because she considered Mother's substantial compliance rather than the ultimate question of whether the children would be safe in Mother's custody. Additionally, the GAL argues that the court erred by excluding Dr. Goldsmith, an expert witness proffered by the GAL at the July Permanency Hearing, as untimely under rule 20A(h)(1) of the Utah Rules of Juvenile Procedure because rule 20A(h)(1) applies to adjudication trials, not permanency hearings, and because the exclusion of Dr. Goldsmith's proffered testimony regarding the importance of acknowledgment of abuse was prejudicial and a violation of the children's due process rights. We have jurisdiction to hear the GAL's appeal pursuant to Utah Code section 78-2-2(3)(b).