Opinion ID: 2045627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts

Text: Lona was 13 years old when she gave birth to Gloria. Gloria's biological father, Walter R., was apparently 36 years old at the time. At age 15, Lona began living with Thomas M. and Barbara C. Lona, Thomas, and Barbara lived as one family unit, and Thomas fathered at least seven children between the two women. Thomas is the biological father of Tabitha, T.J., Amanda, and Joshua. On March 26, 1993, the Douglas County Attorney filed a petition regarding Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda, alleging that they were within the meaning of Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-247(3)(a) (Reissue 1993) and requesting that they be placed in the temporary custody of DSS. Joshua was not yet born at this time. The juvenile court ordered that the immediate custody of the children be retained in DSS. On June 8, Thomas was charged with two counts of first degree sexual assault on a child. The charges alleged that Thomas had sexually assaulted Gloria and a second child fathered by Thomas and born to Barbara. Thomas was ultimately convicted and sentenced to consecutive sentences of 8 to 12 years' imprisonment on each count. On August 23, 1993, Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda were adjudicated to be within the meaning of § 43-247(3)(a). This order retained temporary custody of the children with DSS for appropriate care and placement. On October 6, the children were ordered to remain in the temporary custody of DSS and Lona was ordered to comply with a plan designed to correct the conditions leading to their adjudication. Among other proscriptions, Lona was ordered to avoid any association with Thomas. On November 18, the juvenile court again ordered Lona to refrain from contact with Thomas. A review of the detention order was held on April 22, 1994, and the juvenile court found that it was still not in the children's best interests to be returned to Lona's home. The court continued their temporary custody with DSS. A review hearing was again held on October 19. The court found that T.J. and Amanda should remain in the custody of DSS for appropriate care and placement, but modified the initial order such that the placement of T.J. and Amanda could include the home of Lona. Gloria and Tabitha remained in foster care. T.J. and Amanda were eventually returned to Lona's home as provided for in the October 19 modification. The October 19, 1994, order also reiterated the prohibition on Lona having any contact with Thomas: [Lona must] [n]ot engage in any contact or communication or visitation in ANY FORM WHATSOEVER, (including but not limited to telephon[e] or letter) with Thomas ... and Lona F[.] shall not permit, allow, or in any manner facilitate any visitation, contact or communication in ANY FORM WHATSOEVER (including but not limited to telephone or letters) between Thomas ... and any of the abovenamed minor children. (Emphasis in original.) On December 6, 1994, the county attorney filed a motion for immediate temporary custody regarding T.J. and Amanda. The juvenile court granted the motion and held that pending a further hearing, T.J. and Amanda should immediately be removed from Lona's home. The court entered a separate order for the immediate removal of Joshua from Lona's care. That same day, the county attorney filed a motion to terminate Lona's parental rights to Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda. The county attorney alleged that these four children had been adjudicated to be within the meaning of § 43-247(3)(a) and that the children were within the meaning of Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-292(6) (Reissue 1993). The county attorney also alleged that Lona had knowingly and intentionally violated court orders forbidding contact with Thomas. The motion was later amended to allege that Gloria and Tabitha were also within the meaning of § 43-292(7). Also on December 6, a similar petition was filed in a separate proceeding regarding Joshua. The county attorney alleged that Joshua was within the meaning of §§ 43-247(3)(a) and 43-292(6). The petition was later amended to allege that Joshua was also within the meaning of § 43-292(2). A detention hearing was held on December 15, 1994, at which evidence was taken regarding Lona's contact with Thomas and Walter, and the children's health and behavior. Thereafter, on December 16, the juvenile court ordered that it would be in the best interests of Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda to place them in the temporary custody of DSS for appropriate care and placement until further order of the court, subject to supervised visitation with Lona. A similar order was entered with respect to Joshua. Lona timely appealed both of these orders. In spite of the appeals, the juvenile court considered the petition for termination of Lona's parental rights to the five children, over Lona's objection that the court lacked jurisdiction because of the appeals. On June 28, 1995, the court adjudicated Joshua as being within the meaning of § 43-247(3)(a) and terminated Lona's parental rights to him. By a separate order that same day, the court terminated Lona's parental rights to the remaining four children. Lona timely appealed these orders. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed the juvenile court's detention orders in cases Nos. S-94-1239 and S-94-1240. In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 4 Neb.App. 659, 548 N.W.2d 348 (1996). The Court of Appeals held that the juvenile court did not have jurisdiction to consider whether Lona's parental rights to all five of the children should be terminated because the appeals from the detention orders were pending, and the Court of Appeals dismissed cases Nos. S-95-761 and S-95-762 for lack of jurisdiction and remanded the causes to the juvenile court with directions to cancel the juvenile court's orders terminating Lona's parental rights. We granted the State's petition for further review.