Opinion ID: 4537593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: Due Process. Samuel, who was incarcerated in South Carolina, had his parental rights to Taeson terminated at a hearing at which he was represented by counsel; he was not physically present nor did he participate telephonically. In Samuel’s brief, he contends that he was denied due process generally because he did not appear “in some fashion,” brief for appellant at 12, and, in particular, he was denied a “telephonic or video hearing,” brief for appellant at 9. We determine that under the facts of this case, Samuel was not denied due process. [3] It is settled in Nebraska, and Samuel agrees, that an incarcerated parent’s physical presence is not necessary at a hearing to terminate parental rights, provided that the parent has been afforded procedural due process. See, In re Interest of Mainor T. & Estela T., supra; In re Interest of L.V., 240 Neb. 404, 482 N.W.2d 250 (1992). The fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard “‘at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.’” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333, 96 S. Ct. 893, 47 L. Ed. 2d 18 (1976). We have explained that a juvenile court must consider several factors in determining whether to allow a parent’s attendance, which factors are as follows: the delay resulting from prospective parental attendance, the need for disposition of the proceeding within the immediate future, the elapsed time during which the proceeding has been pending before the juvenile court, the expense to the State if the State will be required to provide transportation for the parent, the inconvenience or detriment to parties or witnesses, the potential danger or security risk which may occur as a result of the parent’s - 286 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports IN RE INTEREST OF TAESON D. Cite as 305 Neb. 279 release from custody or confinement to attend the hearing, the reasonable availability of the parent’s testimony through a means other than parental attendance at the hearing, and the best interests of the parent’s child or children in reference to the parent’s prospective physical attendance at the termination hearing. In re Interest of L.V., 240 Neb. at 416, 482 N.W.2d at 258-59. [4] With respect to the participation of the incarcerated parent, we have stated that in most situations, in order to trigger the requirements of In re Interest of L.V., the initiative is properly placed on the parent or the parent’s attorney to notify the court of the parent’s incarceration and to request attendance. See In re Interest of Mainor T. & Estela T., supra. We logically apply this principle to an incarcerated parent’s request to appear telephonically. In the present case, no such request was made and, to the contrary as seen in the material quoted above, such appearance was waived. [5] We are aware of jurisdictions which require juvenile courts to either give incarcerated parents the opportunity to participate by telephone in the entire hearing, e.g., In Interest of M.D., 921 N.W.2d 229 (Iowa 2018) (amended Mar. 5, 2019), or offer an alternative procedure by which the incarcerated parent may review a transcript of the record of the evidence presented against him or her and testify later at a bifurcated hearing. See, E.J.S. v. Dept. of Health & Soc. Serv., 754 P.2d 749 (Alaska 1988); In re Randy Scott B., 511 A.2d 450 (Me. 1986). However, in light of a juvenile court’s relative inability to compel an out-of-state correctional facility to allow an incarcerated parent to participate in an entire hearing, we decline to require juvenile courts to follow a rigid procedure of telephonic participation for the entire hearing in all cases. Like several other jurisdictions that have thoroughly considered the issue, we leave it to the juvenile courts’ discretion to determine how an incarcerated parent may meaningfully participate in the hearing on the termination of his or her parental rights consist­ ent with due process. See, In re C.G., 954 N.E.2d 910 (Ind. - 287 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports IN RE INTEREST OF TAESON D. Cite as 305 Neb. 279 2011) (cases collected); In re D.C.S.H.C., 733 N.W.2d 902 (N.D. 2007); State ex rel. Jeanette H. v. Pancake, 207 W. Va. 154, 529 S.E.2d 865 (2000). In this case, Samuel was aware that Taeson was adjudicated as a juvenile under § 43-247(3)(a). Samuel received notice of the termination hearing, filed a pleading denying the allegations, and was represented by counsel throughout the termination proceeding. Compare In re Interest of Davonest D. et al., 19 Neb. App. 543, 809 N.W.2d 819 (2012) (concluding due process violated for inmate who was neither present nor represented by counsel at termination hearing). The record shows that Samuel had been communicating with counsel and that Samuel’s counsel cross-examined the witness and had the opportunity to present evidence, which he declined. Samuel did not request to be present or telephonically participate at the termination hearing and did not request a continuance. The hearing on parental termination had already been continued twice, and the juvenile court properly exercised its discretion when it conducted the hearing with Samuel’s interests represented by counsel. Samuel was not denied procedural due process under the circumstances. Termination. Samuel contends that the juvenile court erred when it terminated his parental rights under § 43-292(6) because the State did not make reasonable efforts to reunite him with Taeson. See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Cum. Supp. 2018) and § 43-292(6). We reject this assignment of error. The juvenile court found sufficient evidence existed under § 43-292(2), (6), and (7) to support a termination of Samuel’s parental rights. We have held that any one of the bases for termination of parental rights codified by § 43-292 can serve as the basis for the termination of parental rights when coupled with evidence that termination is in the best interests of the child. In re Interest of Sir Messiah T. et al., 279 Neb. 900, 782 N.W.2d 320 (2010). - 288 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports IN RE INTEREST OF TAESON D. Cite as 305 Neb. 279 Samuel has not raised a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence establishing that under § 43-292(2), he substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected and refused to give Taeson necessary parental care and protection, or that under § 43-292(7), Taeson had been in an out-of-home placement for 15 or more months of the most recent 22 months. Each of these subsections is a statutory basis for termination. See In re Interest of Sir Messiah T. et al., supra. We find support in the record establishing grounds for termination under § 43-292(2) and (7). In addition, the evidence demonstrates that termination of Samuel’s parental rights is in the best interests of Taeson. At the time of the proceedings, Samuel had virtually no relationship with Taeson and there was no evidence that Samuel had taken steps to establish a relationship. Samuel was sentenced on a drug-related offense to be incarcerated for the entirety of Taeson’s juvenile years. Further, the juvenile court’s finding that Samuel was unfit was supported by the record. Because the State needed to prove only one basis for termination, and did so here, we need not further analyze Samuel’s claim that the State made insufficient efforts to preserve and reunify the family under § 42-292(6). See In re Interest of Sir Messiah T. et al., supra.