Opinion ID: 1926384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Meaningful Participation

Text: This is not the first time we have been called upon to balance the second and third Mathews factors in a proceeding to terminate the parental rights of an incarcerated person. In a prior opinion, this Court has held that an incarcerated individual has no constitutional due process right to be physically present at a hearing to terminate his or her parental rights. [13] Nevertheless, due process requires an incarcerated parent [to] have an opportunity for meaningful participation in the termination process. [14] This Court has concluded that due process was satisfied when the Family Court conducted a proceeding to terminate an incarcerated mother's parental rights by affording that individual the opportunity to participate in the entire hearing by telephone from prison. [15] In that appeal, the issue was an alleged equipment problem with the telephone connection during the hearing. This Court determined that the trial judge made sufficient efforts to assure that the incarcerated mother could hear all of the testimony and that all of the documentary evidence was read to her. [16] This Court also stated: In future similar proceedings, however, the Family Court should, before such proceedings commence, make certain that the communication system is working properly and that all parties can effectively hear (and where applicable, see) the proffered testimony. [17] The basis for this Court's holding in Heller was our conclusion that an incarcerated parent's right to due process included an opportunity to have actual knowledge of the testimonial and documentary evidence being presented in support of the petition to terminate his or her parental rights. DFS argues, however, that Orville was afforded due process because she was represented by counsel, notwithstanding her exclusion from participation in the hearing by telephone when DFS presented its evidence against her. A majority of courts from other jurisdictions that have considered similar arguments have rejected DFS' position. [18]