Opinion ID: 1901618
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fundamental Right of Parenting and CINA Proceedings

Text: Maryland has long recognized the right of parents to raise their children with minimal state interference as a constitutionally protected fundamental right. See In re Billy W., Jessica W., Mary S. & George B., 386 Md. 675, 683, 874 A.2d 423, 428 (2005); In re Samone H. and Marchay E., 385 Md. 282, 299, 869 A.2d 370, 380 (2005); In re Mark M., 365 Md. 687, 705, 782 A.2d 332, 342-43 (2001); In re Adoption/Guardianship No. 10941, 335 Md. 99, 112, 642 A.2d 201, 208 (1994) (quoting Lassiter v. Department of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 101 S.Ct. 2153, 68 L.Ed.2d 640 (1981)). Indeed, we have iterated that: A parent's interest in raising a child is, no doubt, a fundamental right, recognized by the United States Supreme Court and this Court. The United States Supreme Court has long avowed the basic civil right encompassed by child rearing and family life. See Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66, 120 S.Ct. 2054, 2060, 147 L.Ed.2d 49, 57 (2000) (stating that `the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children'); See also Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 753, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 1394-95, 71 L.Ed.2d 599, 606 (1982) (discussing `the fundamental liberty interest of natural parents in the care, custody, and management of their child'); Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 651, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 1212-13, 31 L.Ed.2d 551, 558-59 (1972)(stating that `[t]he rights to conceive and to raise one's children have been deemed `essential,' and that `[t]he integrity of the family unit has found protection in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment . . . the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment . . . and the Ninth Amendment .. . .') (internal citations omitted). Maryland, too, has declared a parent's interest in raising a child to be so fundamental that it `cannot be taken away unless clearly justified.' Boswell v. Boswell, 352 Md. 204, 218, 721 A.2d 662, 669 (1998) (citing In re Adoption No. 10941, 335 Md. 99, 112, 642 A.2d 201 (1994)). In re Samone H., 385 Md. at 300, 869 A.2d at 380 (quoting In re Mark M., 365 Md. at 705, 782 A.2d at 342-43). This right, however, is not absolute: Pursuant to the doctrine of parens patriae, the State of Maryland has an interest in caring for those, such as minors, who cannot care for themselves. See Boswell, 352 Md. at 218-19, 721 A.2d at 669. We have held that `the best interests of the child may take precedence over the parent's liberty interest in the course of a custody, visitation, or adoption dispute.' Boswell, 352 Md. at 219, 721 A.2d at 669; see also In re Adoption No. 10941, 335 Md. at 113, 642 A.2d at 208 (stating that the controlling factor. . . is . . . what best serves the interest of the child). That which will best promote the child's welfare becomes particularly consequential where the interests of a child are in jeopardy, as is often the case in situations involving sexual, physical, or emotional abuse by a parent. As we stated in In re Adoption/Guardianship No. A91-71A, 334 Md. 538, 640 A.2d 1085 (1994), the child's welfare is `a consideration that is of transcendent importance' when the child might otherwise be in jeopardy. Id. at 561, 640 A.2d at 1096 (citation omitted).    We have recognized that in cases where abuse or neglect is evidenced, particularly in a CINA case, the court's role is necessarily more pro-active. See In re Justin D., [357 Md. 431, 448, 745 A.2d 408, 417 (2000)]. In re Mark M., 365 Md. at 705-07, 782 A.2d at 343. The federal and state roles in the child welfare system were explored in In re Yve S., 373 Md. 551, 819 A.2d 1030 (2003) (quoting from Judge Karwacki in In re Adoption/Guardianship No. 10941, 335 Md. 99, 103-06, 642 A.2d 201, 203-05 (1994)); The Maryland General Assembly has enacted a comprehensive statutory scheme to address those situations where a child is at risk because of his or her parents' inability or unwillingness to care for him or her. Title 5 of the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code (1984, 1991 Repl.Vol.) (Hereinafter F.L.) governs the custody, guardianship, adoption and general protection of children who because of abuse or neglect come within the purview of the Department of Human Resources .. .    During the 1970's, nationwide concern grew regarding the large number of children who remained out of the homes of their biological parents throughout their childhood, frequently moved from one foster care situation to another, thereby reaching majority without belonging to a permanent family. This phenomenon became known as `foster care drift' and resulted in the enactment by Congress of Public Law 96-272, the `Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980,' codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 610-679 (1988). One of the important purposes of this law was to eliminate foster care drift by requiring states to adopt statutes to facilitate permanent placement for children as a condition to receiving federal funding for their foster care and adoption assistance programs. Under the federal act, a state is required, among other things, to provide a written case plan for each child for whom the state claims federal foster care maintenance payments. 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(16). The case plan must include a description of the home or institution into which the child is placed, a discussion of the appropriateness of the placement, and a description of the services provided to the parents, child and foster parents to facilitate return of the child to his or her own home or to establish another permanent placement for the child. 42 U.S.C. § 675(1). The state must also implement a case review system that provides for administrative review of the case plan at least every six months and judicial review no later than eighteen months after placement and periodically thereafter. 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(B) and (C). The purpose of the judicial review is to `determine the future status of the child' including whether the child should be returned to its biological parents, continued in foster care for a specified period, placed for adoption, or because of the child's special needs or circumstances, continued in foster case on a long term basis. 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(C). Maryland receives considerable federal funds pursuant to this Act. Accordingly, the Maryland General Assembly has enacted legislation to comply with the federal requirements. Under Maryland's statutory scheme, for those children committed to a local department of social services the department is required to develop and implement a permanency plan that is in the best interests of the child. F.L. § 5-525. In developing the permanency plan, the department is required to consider a statutory hierarchy of placement options in descending order of priority. F.L. § 5-525(c). First and foremost, the department must consider returning the child to the child's natural parents or guardians. F.L. § 5-525(c)(1). If reunification with the biological parents is not possible, the department must consider placing the child with relatives to whom adoption, guardianship, or care and custody, in descending order of priority, are planned to be granted. F.L. § 5-525(c)(2). If placement with relatives is not possible, then the department must consider adoption by a current foster parent or other approved adoptive family. F.L. § 5-525(c)(3). Only in exceptional situations as defined by rule or regulation is a child to be placed in long term foster care. F.L. § 5-525(c)(5). If it is determined that reunification is not possible and that adoption is in the child's best interests, the juvenile court lacks jurisdiction to finalize this plan. In re Darius A., 47 Md.App. 232, 235, 422 A.2d 71, 72 (1980); see also F.L. § 1-201. Instead, unless the parents consent to the adoption of their child, the department is required to petition the circuit court for guardianship pursuant to F.L. § 5-313. If the circuit court finds by clear and convincing evidence, after considering the statutorily enumerated factors, that it is in the best interests of a child previously adjudicated a CINA for parental rights to be terminated, the circuit court has authority to grant the department's petition for guardianship. Such award carries with it the right for the department to consent to the adoption of the child. F.L. §§ 5-311 and 5-317(f). The overriding theme of both the federal and state legislation is that a child should have permanency in his or her life. The valid premise is that it is in a child's best interest to be placed in a permanent home and to spend as little time as possible in foster care. Thus, Title 5 of the Family Law Article seeks to prevent the need for removal of a child from its home, to return a child to its home when possible, and where returning home is not possible, to place the child in another permanent placement that has legal status. Id. at 573-76, 819 A.2d at 1043-45 (emphasis added); see also In re Adoption/Guardianship Nos. J9610436 and J9711031, 368 Md. 666, 676-78, 796 A.2d 778, 783-85. Under this statutory scheme, upon receipt of a complaint from a person or agency that a child is being abused or neglected, the county department of social services undertakes an investigation to determine whether the child is in need of assistance. See Md.Code (1973, 2002 Repl. Vol.), § 3-809(a) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. If the department concludes that the court has jurisdiction over the matter and determines that filing a petition would be in the best interest of the child, it will file a petition alleging that the child is in need of assistance. After the petition is filed, the court shall hold an adjudicatory hearing, Md.Code (1973, 2002 Repl.Vol.), § 3-817 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, [10] the purpose of which is to determine whether the allegations in the petition for court intervention are true. Md.Code (1973, 2002 Repl. Vol.), § 3-801(c) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. At the adjudicatory hearing, the Maryland Rules of Evidence under Title 5 of the Maryland Rules apply, and the allegations in the petition must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. Md.Code (1973, 2002 Repl.Vol.), § 3-817 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. It is within this statutory scheme that we must determine what level of due process protection must be afforded parents who are deemed to have waived a contested CINA adjudicatory hearing.