Opinion ID: 2045627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: jurisdiction to terminate lona's parental rights to gloria tabitha, t.j., and amanda

Text: On March 23, 1993, Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda were removed from Lona's home for the first time. Their custody was placed in DSS and has remained in DSS at all relevant times. However, prior to the December 16, 1994, order regarding these children, T.J. and Amanda were returned by DSS to Lona's home. T.J. and Amanda stayed with Lona until December 6, 1994, when the juvenile court ordered that they be removed from Lona's home. On December 16, 1994, the juvenile court entered a pre-adjudication order retaining temporary custody of Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda in DSS for appropriate care and placement. Lona appealed this order, which appeal was docketed as case No. S-94-1240. Lona argues that her appeal from the preadjudication detention order divested the juvenile court of jurisdiction and that, therefore, the court did not have jurisdiction to address whether Lona's parental rights regarding these four children should be terminated while her appeals were pending. The State argues that the December 16, 1994, order was merely a change in placement pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-285(3) (Reissue 1993) and that, therefore, the only proper avenue for Lona's appeal was through a juvenile review panel, pursuant to Neb.Rev. Stat. § 43-287.04 (Reissue 1993). The State argues that because Lona did not utilize this avenue for appeal, she has waived her right to appeal the December 16, 1994, order. As a result, Lona's attempt to appeal this order without utilizing the juvenile review panel was improper and should not have divested the juvenile court of the jurisdiction necessary to adjudicate the termination of Lona's parental rights. The Court of Appeals held that the December 16, 1994, order was dispositional in nature because the order changed the terms of the juvenile court's original disposition regarding Gloria, Tabitha, T.J., and Amanda in such a way as to eliminate the possibility that the children could be placed with Lona by DSS and was a final, appealable order. In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 4 Neb.App. 659, 667, 548 N.W.2d 348, 354 (1996). As we will explain, this holding was correct with respect with T.J. and Amanda, but was incorrect with respect to Gloria and Tabitha.