Opinion ID: 2211910
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Transcripts of CHINS Hearings.

Text: While a guilty plea normally terminates a case, we believe it important to elaborate on the evidence disclosed by the transcripts from the CHINS hearings conducted before respondent Arthur. As previously stated, these Courts, after considering the information, the testimony before these Courts on June 18, and, finally, the CHINS hearing transcripts, became convinced that this was not a good faith effort to help a child in need of services. Rather, it was a well orchestrated effort to thwart the orders of these Courts by prostituting the emergency authority of a juvenile court. At the first hearing, in response to the CHINS petitions, Val Fleig, attorney for the mother, raised several valid questions as to their sufficiency and to the legitimacy of the proceedings. [10] Fleig made the following argument to respondent Arthur: Your Honor, as Mr. Gray has advised the Court, this Court pursuant to the Order of the Indiana Supreme Court entered an order this morning granting the Writ of Habeas Corpus directing Mr. Lemond and the Sheriff of Pike County, Indiana to assist Mrs. McCormack in securing the custody of her child. The speed with which these petitions have been filed have caught us somewhat by surprise. But in all frankness, Mrs. McCormack has not had this child in her custody and she has not seen the child for two years because of this prior litigation. We walk in here today and we are faced once again with an attempt to stop her from having her custody, having her child. As far as the petitions that have been filed, those petitions are not filed, even according to law, they have never either the Welfare Department acting through Mr. McGaughey or Michelle, acting through her attorneys have ever requested this Court for authority to even file a petition. They simply walk into the Court, stamp it filed and that is it. And, under § 31-6-4-3, it requires this Court-the Court has to determine then whether or not it should even be filed. The authority that they cite for the physical examination, I think, what we are getting at, which is set in Dorothy Wiseman's affidavit. Under that section, it is my understanding that it first has to be a petition to authorize before the Court can even grab the child. In their petition, they are asking the very same Court that was ordered by the Supreme Court to deliver the child to enjoin her to having her child again. We haven't even had the opportunity to see the child today, to see what the reaction is. We are faced with affidavits. The amended petition alleges that the child is a child in need of services in that her physical and mental condition is seriously impaired and endangered as a result of the change of custody. Where they cite § 31-6-4-3, and I assume that they are talking about subsection two, it says physical and mental health is seriously endangered due to injury by the act or omission of his parent, guardian or custodian. They don't allege that part of it in this petition. If there is harm done, I assume they are alleging the Supreme Court of Indiana did it, because they are the ones that ordered the return. The counsel for Michelle Lemond has also filed a petition alleging [a] child in need of services, yet there is no authority under the Juvenile Code for the child or the child's attorney to file such a petition. It is done after the Welfare Department has done an investigation and has found cause, has submitted to the attorney and that attorney makes a decision on whether or not it should be filed and he requests the Court to file it, if the Court okays it, then it is filed. Michelle's petition is not authorized anywhere. Your Honor, we almost beg the Court not to let this thing continue on and on and on. The requested order that they have prepared sets no deadline, it sets nothing. Mrs. McCormack came here from Hawaii this morning hoping that for the first time, she would receive her child. Again we are in Court under a new theory, they have lost on the first one and we are faced with another. Your Honor, we implore the Court not to permit a second chance to circumvent the Supreme Court of Indiana. That is all we are asking. Thank you. Transcript of June 6, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 3-5. This concise and correct statement of the law and the many apparent defects in the CHINS proceeding were totally ignored by respondent Arthur, who, with only the conclusory statements of the CHINS petitions, [11] and upon no evidence, found Michelle to be in need of services. The petitions simply alleged that Michelle did not want to go back to Hawaii because she was afraid of her mother. In respondent Lemond's petition, there was an allegation that Michelle might run away. [12] No specific facts were asserted by anyone as to the alleged mental problem of Michelle. She was not present at either the habeas corpus hearing or the CHINS hearing on June 6, 1980. The evidence has since disclosed that Michelle was placed in the custody of the Pike County Welfare Department and ordered to undergo mental evaluation in Vincennes. On June 11, 1980, the trial court ordered a second hearing, wherein R. Stephen LaPlante again attempted to point out that the case had been concluded and that Special Judge Arthur was without jurisdiction: [13] Mr. LaPlante: Does the Court wish to see the Appellate Court's decision, Your Honor? The Court: No sir, I would not. Would you like for me to tell you why? Mr. LaPlante: Certainly. The Court: [The] Appellate Court decision has nothing to do with this case. Mr. LaPlante: I would like to address that issue. The Court: You certainly may. Mr. LaPlante: Your Honor, while this case is new to you ... The Court: Yes, let us make that clear. This is a new case, it has nothing to do with the other case. This cause is new to me, it is filed in this Court under a new number, it is not any part of the other case. Now, you may proceed sir. Mr. LaPlante: This [is a] continuation [of] litigation that has been in existence for an excess of two years. During which my client, Jeanene McCormack, has been denied her parental rights, despite having an order of the Court granting the custody of a minor child. That case was decided in the State of Hawaii. This case was decided in the Pike Circuit Court, and that case was decided in the Appellate Court of the State of Indiana. That case was decided in the Supreme Court of Indiana. It has been in this Court in excess of seven days on this matter. At the last hearing you sir, indicated to counsel that your interest was in the best interest of the child. I am always hesitant to respond to that because the presumption is-with that we are not, but that is not correct. What we are seeking to do, is that we are seeking to have our proper rights exercised, we are seeking to have this woman have the custody of her child. This Court is going to relitigate something that has already been litigated. We think that because of that, we are getting beyond what should be the issue in that case and that is what is the best interest of the child, which has already been litigated. Litigation must end some time. My client, it was represented that she come here from Hawaii to exercise her custodial rights, which have been granted by the Hawaii trial court, the Indiana Appellate Court and the Supreme Court of Indiana and now the Pike County Circuit Court. She was advised to be here last June 6, 1980 by an attorney representing her ex-husband and on that date, that same attorney, now representing the child, met her with a petition to put the child in a foster home. It seeks to restrain the order of the Pike Circuit Court, and ask that benefit of the State of Indiana to appear to make argument, to frustrate or continue exercise of her custodial rights. This Court has adjudicated that both of the parents are fit and proper persons to have custody of the child. They interpreted the court order, of Hawaii, they have litigated it. Litigation must end and we believe that the doctrine of res judicata and collateral estoppel apply. We ask that the court recognize what counsel for the child is trying to do. We think it is a rather disguised attempt to frustrate the order of the Supreme Court of the State of Indiana. We would ask that this Court dismiss this petition and dissolve the restraining order against my client. The Court: Wait just a minute. Where is there a restraining order against your client, sir? Mr. LaPlante: It is my understanding that this Court restrained my client from removing the child from the jurisdiction of this Court. The Court: No, you are badly mistaken. This Court granted temporary custody of this child, and placed the child with the Department of Public Welfare, I believe that there is a difference sir. If you had been to law school, you will recognize the difference. Mr. LaPlante: I have not seen that order, sir. Transcript of June 11, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 3-6. If Special Judge Arthur had read the CHINS petition filed by respondent Gray, allegedly on behalf of Michelle Lemond, he would have seen that a restraining order was sought against Mrs. McCormack. [14] This petition was filed on June 6. In fact, at the June 6 hearing, Arthur ruled directly contrary to this later assertion to LaPlante. After Arthur announced that he was ordering that Michelle be made a ward of the Welfare Department, respondent Gray, who purported to be representing Michelle, initiated the following exchange: Mr. Gray: Would the court like to draft its own order or inform me how to redraft it or whatever? There was a paragraph down there, I would also ... Mr. Lemond in this case is not represented, but he may well agree to be restrained from moving the child from the jurisdiction of the court as well as from the Welfare Department. The Court: Both parties are restrained from moving the child from the custody of the Welfare Department. I want no misunderstanding about that. Transcript of June 6, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 9. Clearly, then, respondent Arthur's order of June 6, placing temporary custody with the Department of Public Welfare, had the full effect of a restraining order. The above-quoted brow-beating was not the only instance where respondent Arthur addressed unwarranted and improper demeaning statements to Mr. LaPlante from the bench. During closing argument after the June 11 hearing, Mr. LaPlante contended the evidence did not support a finding that the child should be detained, and renewed his argument that Judge Arthur lacked jurisdiction and should release the child to her mother. Judge Arthur responded in this fashion: The Court: I am not interested in speculating, you are the one that is doing the speculating, sir. Not me. It is my decision to make, not yours. Mr. LaPlante: I understand that. The Court: Well, you stood up and said that the Court had no right to make a decision here today. Now, I have got every right to, and I intend to. You understand me, sir? Mr. LaPlante: That is right. The Court: Good. I once had an attorney stand up in court and starting laughing at what the other side was saying and I ask him what he saw was funny and he said it was a funny argument that man was making and I said I didn't see anything funny about it, I agreed with it. You have no right to ever stand up in this Court, sir, and tell me this Court has no right to make a decision based on what evidence it has heard. This Court or any other Court, sir. You may make a statement if you want that you think that the facts indicate that a decision ought to be reached, but don't ever stand up in my Court again, sir, and tell me I have no right to make a decision of such and such. Mr. LaPlante: With all due respect, sir, you are misconstruing my final ... The Court: I am not misconstruing you, I can understand [the] English language, sir, I heard it and it is on the record. If you want me I will have the court reporter play it back. Transcript of June 11, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 80-81. Of course, Mr. LaPlante was arguing that the evidence would allow only one reasonable decision-the decision to turn the child over to her mother, and thereby comply with the orders of these Courts. Based on the feeble record presented to Judge Arthur, Mr. LaPlante was absolutely correct. Regarding respondent Thomas Gray, the record is replete with evidence of his bad faith. One example concerned Gray's communications with Mrs. McCormack and her attorneys. Gray called Mrs. McCormack on June 4 and represented to her that she could pick up Michelle on Friday, June 6, at 9:00 a.m. The next day, June 5, Gray made a series of misrepresentations to Mrs. McCormack's counsel, LaPlante. Gray told LaPlante that Earl Lemond was his client, and that they would be standing tall awaiting the orders of the court on June 6. Further, Gray informed LaPlante that Michelle Lemond was seeking independent counsel. It developed, of course, that Gray appeared in court on June 6 purporting to be Michelle's independent counsel and disavowing any attorney-client relationship with Earl Lemond. Miraculously, Earl Lemond, proceeding pro se, had fashioned a CHINS petition which, in form, would have been a credit to any attorney. Finally, respondent Gray completely confirmed the culpability of his conduct on June 11 at the second CHINS hearing, when he responded to Mr. LaPlante's argument as follows: Your Honor, I do not intend to, do not want to make any comment whatsoever about the allegations that Mr. LaPlante made in the other case, just simply state that if we are called on the carpet on that, I am ready, willing and able to go anywhere, anytime and answer for my conduct and I thank this Court for simply looking into and seeing whether or not we have a child that needs help or not. If the child doesn't need help it doesn't need help. If the child does, I am confident that this Court will take the appropriate steps. Thank you. Transcript of June 11, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 17. As the contempt proceedings began in these Courts, respondents repeatedly claimed that Special Judge Arthur had jurisdiction because, at the time the petitions were filed, there was a danger that Michelle would run away. Upon reviewing the transcript from the CHINS hearings, it became clear to these Courts that this allegation was nothing more than a pretense for Judge Arthur's assuming jurisdiction. Respondent Earl Lemond testified that Michelle never said she was going to run away. At one point in his testimony, Earl Lemond stated that Michelle sort of wandered off prior to the scheduled transfer of custody at 9:00 a.m. on June 6, which was also the date of the first CHINS hearing. As a matter of fact, Michelle was never lost. This conclusion is clearly shown by the fact that Michelle signed a petition that day prior to the CHINS hearing in Gray's office, alleging herself to be in need of services. Obviously, only Mrs. McCormack and her attorneys had any difficulty in locating Michelle. The girl also testified at the second hearing that she never told her father she was going to run away. Each of the four CHINS petitions also alleged that Michelle was afraid of her mother. However, when Michelle testified at the second hearing, the following exchange occurred. Q. When you saw your mother, were you afraid of her? A. I don't know, I guess. Q. You guess? A. A little. Q. A little? A. Yes. Q. What were you afraid of? A. Just her. Q. Earl? A. Her. Q. Were you afraid of her because she had asked for custody of you? A. What do you mean? Q. Do you understand that you parents have each been asking the Court for you to live with them? A. Yes. Q. Is that why you were afraid of your mother? A. No. Q. Why were you afraid of your mother? A. Because she would go on trips and she would leave me with a babysitter and she would send Sherry out to a boarding school far away. I don't know why, she would just do it. Transcript of June 11, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 68. This was the only specific testimony concerning the cause of Michelle's alleged fears and mental problem. Also included in the transcript of the June 11 CHINS hearing was testimony given by Sheila Tisdale, Michelle's half-sister, regarding the short visitation permitted between Mrs. McCormack and Michelle after two years' separation: Q. When was the last time that you saw Michelle? A. I guess it was Friday. Q. Where at? A. At that lady's house, I don't know. Q. Mrs. Tincher's? A. Yeah, I guess that is her name. Q. Were you present when Michelle and her mother were visiting each other? A. Yes, I was. Q. Did you hear your mother ask Michelle whether or not Michelle loved her? A. Yes, I did. Q. What did she say? A. She said, `Yes.' Q. Did they embrace? A. Yes. Q. Did they hug? A. Yes. Q. What did you observe? Was Michelle hesitant to hug her? A. No. Q. Was it freely given as far as you could tell? A. Yes. Q. Did Michelle seem scared to death? A. Not really, she, you know, I don't think she seemed scared, she was just you know, I don't know. Q. A little upset? A. Yeah. Transcript of June 11, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 74. The Tinchers were persons chosen by the Pike County Welfare Department who apparently cared for children who might be in need of services. Purely as a matter of equity and common sense, it is inconceivable how respondent Arthur could have ordered further detention of Michelle after the June 11 hearing. The CHINS petitions were vague and conclusory. The record is replete with inconsistencies, and without question demonstrates respondents' bad faith. The record is likewise totally devoid of credible evidence to support respondent Arthur's orders. Respondents argue that, when Judge Richardson granted the writ of habeas corpus, these Courts' orders were thereby fully complied with. A similar position was advanced in State ex rel. Purcell v. Sullivan Circuit Court, (1950) 228 Ind. 410, 92 N.E.2d 843. In that case, a circuit court judge entered an order which seemingly complied with a writ of prohibition issued by the Supreme Court. The facts behind the trial court's order, however, demonstrated that the order was merely a sham, designed to avoid the force and effect of the writ. In finding the circuit court judge in contempt, the Supreme Court cautioned that [t]his Court... is not blind, and proceeded to look past the trial court's order to his actual behavior. Id. at 425, 92 N.E.2d at 849. Similarly, these Courts are not blind to the true nature and purpose of these respondents' conduct.