Opinion ID: 4289419
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: “Rule 17(b) of the Family Court Rules of Juvenile Proceedings sets forth the standard under which abuse determinations are to be made[,]” providing that a “[d]etermination that a child is abused, neglected, or dependent shall be made upon clear and convincing evidence.” In re Adner G., 925 A.2d 951, 957 (R.I. 2007) (quoting R. Juv. P. 17(b)). “[T]he clear and convincing standard requires that the fact-finder form a ‘clear conviction without hesitancy of the truth of the precise facts in issue.’” Id. (quoting Parker v. Parker, 103 R.I. 435, 442, 238 A.2d 57, 61 (1968)). In our review, “we examine the record to determine whether legally competent evidence exists in it to support findings made by the trial justice.” Id. (quoting In re - 20 - Mackenzie C., 877 A.2d 674, 685 (R.I. 2005)). “These findings are entitled to great weight and will not be reversed on appeal unless the trial justice overlooked or misconceived material evidence, or was otherwise clearly wrong.” Id. (quoting In re Mackenzie C., 877 A.2d at 685). Our review, therefore, is deferential; “we must search the record in this case to determine whether legally competent evidence exists to support the trial justice’s finding   .” Id. III