Opinion ID: 533852
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of Younger

Text: 14 In Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746, 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971), the Supreme Court held that a federal court should not act to restrain an ongoing state court criminal prosecution. Id. at 41, 91 S.Ct. at 749. By abstaining from exercise of their jurisdiction, the federal courts promote the value of comity between the states and the federal government and avoid unnecessary determinations of federal constitutional questions. Id. at 44, 52, 91 S.Ct. at 750, 754. In Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415, 99 S.Ct. 2371, 60 L.Ed.2d 994 (1979), the Supreme Court held that the principles of Younger also apply in the context of state child custody cases involving child abuse. 15 [T]he temporary removal of a child in a child-abuse context is ... in aid of and closely related to criminal statutes. The existence of these conditions, or the presence of such other vital concerns as enforcement of contempt proceedings, or the vindication of important state policies such as safeguarding the fiscal integrity of [public assistance] programs, determines the applicability of Younger- Huffman[ v. Pursue Ltd., 420 U.S. 592, 95 S.Ct. 1200, 43 L.Ed.2d 482 16 Id. at 423, 99 S.Ct. at 2377 (citations omitted). Thus, under Younger and Sims federal district courts may not interfere with ongoing child custody proceedings. 17 The Juvenile Court hearing scheduled for February 24, 1989 was part of a state court child custody action in a child abuse context. Ronald was allegedly abusing Charles. The Liedels filed their complaint in the federal district court on February 14, 1989. At that point, they were fully aware that they had been ordered by the Juvenile Court to appear at a hearing on February 24, 1989, to discuss their compliance with the court's orders. 6 Under Younger and Sims, the Liedels' federal complaint must be dismissed to the extent that it asks the court to enjoin the Juvenile Court from holding further hearings or entering further orders in the child abuse proceeding. 7