Opinion ID: 1164266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The procedures in the magistrates court.

Text: On May 1, 1978, the Department petitioned the magistrate court for termination of Victoria's parental rights on the grounds of neglect, abandonment, inability to discharge parental duties because of mental illness, and on the basis that termination would be in the best interests of the child. At this time, Victoria was incarcerated under her previous sentence at the North Idaho Correctional Institute in Cottonwood. A public defender was appointed pursuant to I.C. § 16-2009 to represent Victoria in this proceeding. On June 5, 1978, with Victoria and her counsel present, hearing was held before Magistrate Judge Smith. Following the conclusion of the first day of testimony, Judge Smith became ill. Upon the stipulation of the counsel for the respective parties that Judge Shaud would hear the remainder of the testimony and that a transcript thereof would then be submitted to Judge Smith for his determination of the entire matter, on June 7 the hearing continued before Magistrate Judge Shaud. The state's case in chief was presented entirely on the first day of trial before Magistrate Judge Smith and the appellant's case was presented on the second day of trial before Magistrate Judge Shaud. On June 20, 1978, Judge Smith entered an order which set forth his findings of fact, and conclusions of law, and ordered termination of the parental rights of appellant in her child. The order also provided that legal custody of the child was to be vested in the director of the Department of Health and Welfare.