Opinion ID: 2751774
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: procedure on appeal

Text: [¶6] On June 3, 2014, counsel for the father filed an appellate brief containing only a procedural history and statement of facts, accompanied by a motion for enlargement of time to allow the father to personally file a supplemental brief. Counsel stated in his motion that he did not find any arguable issues on appeal and was filing the motion and statement of facts according to the process identified in In re William P., 2001 ME 25, ¶ 3, 765 A.2d 76. We granted the motion on June 6, 2014, to allow the father to personally file a brief on or before July 11, 2014. The father did not file a supplemental brief, and on July 21, 2014, we ordered that we would consider the appeal on the counsel for the father’s brief, without any briefing by the Department. 4 [¶7] The process utilized by the father’s counsel in this appeal was proper and in line with our past precedent for addressing appeals of questionable merit in cases involving fundamental constitutional rights when, as a matter of due process, a party has a right to have an appeal heard. When a parent’s attorney in a child protection case believes, in good faith, that there are no arguable issues of merit in an appeal, counsel should: 1. File with the Court, with a copy to the client, a brief outlining the factual and procedural history of the case, and including a statement that counsel believes that there are no arguable issues of merit for an appeal. 2. Provide the client with notice that, if the client believes that there is a valid ground for appeal, the client should file (a) a brief with this Court identifying the issues the client wishes to raise on appeal, and (b) a request for the appointment of new counsel if the client desires new representation. 3. Request from this Court a reasonable extension of time for filing the appellant’s brief to allow the client time to prepare and file a separate brief addressing the issues on appeal from the client’s perspective. See In re William P., 2001 ME 25, ¶ 3, 765 A.2d 76; see also State v. Hofland, 2012 ME 129, ¶¶ 13-17, 58 A.3d 1023; see generally State v. Junkins, 2001 ME 133, 779 A.2d 948 (addressing the appropriate process to address appeals, or issues on appeal, that counsel determines may lack merit in criminal cases). 5 [¶8] Counsel did as we have suggested in this case. The father was given the opportunity to but did not file a separate brief by the time allowed by our grant of the motion for extension of time to file his brief. The matter is now in order for decision. The record supports the court’s findings, to the clear and convincing evidence standard, that at least one ground of parental unfitness is proved. See 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(b)(ii); In re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159, ¶¶ 17-23, 809 A.2d 1245. Further, there was ample evidence in the record to support the court’s finding that termination of the father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. See 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(a); In re Charles G., 2001 ME 3, ¶ 14, 763 A.2d 1163. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. On the briefs: Christopher W. Dilworth, Esq., Farmington, for appellant father The Department of Health and Human Services did not file a brief Rumford District Court docket number PC-2012-2 FOR CLERK REFERENCE ONLY