Opinion ID: 2820812
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Probate Court Procedures and Record

Text: [¶13] The Probate Court ensured that the necessary procedures were followed in the course of this guardianship proceeding: (1) the court appointed counsel for McIntosh, see id. § 5-303(b); (2) the court appointed a visitor, who made the requisite investigation, filed a report, and was present and testified at the hearing, see id. §§ 5-303(b), (c), 5-308; (3) McIntosh was given an opportunity for an independent evaluation, see id. § 5-303(b); (4) all interested persons were provided with notice and an opportunity to be heard, see id. §§ 1-401, 5-309; and (5) the hearing on the petition was recorded in a manner that allowed subsequent preparation of a transcript. See Guardianship of Chamberlain, 2015 ME 76, ¶ 6 n.2, --- A.3d ---; Guardianship of Hughes, 1998 ME 186, ¶¶ 8-15, 715 A.2d 919 8 (outlining the fundamental liberty interests implicated in adult guardianship proceedings and procedural safeguards in place). [¶14] In proceedings in which fundamental liberty interests are implicated, due process requires that there be an adequate record of the trial court decision, including any transcript of the proceedings, to permit fair consideration of the issues on appeal. See State v. King, 2015 ME 41, ¶ 4, 114 A.3d 664; State v. Milliken, 2010 ME 1, ¶¶ 12-13, 985 A.2d 1152. An adequate, retrievable record of a trial court proceeding may also be essential for consideration of issues raised post-judgment or in a subsequent proceeding in the trial court, as can occur in guardianship proceedings. Cf. State v. Dickinson, 662 A.2d 202, 204 (Me. 1995) (vacating sentences and remanding for resentencing when a court reporter lost the notes of the original sentencing hearing and was unable to transcribe the hearing for consideration in a sentence review proceeding). [¶15] This requirement applies to guardianship matters because, without an adequate record, including a transcript, the appellate court and the parties to the appeal cannot adequately address the trial court’s fact-findings and exercises of its discretion. See Guardianship of Chamberlain, 2015 ME 76, ¶ 6 n.2, --- A.3d --- (noting recording requirement in proceedings for appointment of a guardian for a minor); Guardianship of Helen F., 2013 ME 18, ¶ 7, 60 A.3d 786 (remanding for a new hearing when the trial judge did not recall the contents of an unrecorded 9 hearing sufficiently to review and approve statements of the record submitted by the parties).