Court Opinion

ID: 2652639
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-07 19:30:29.928054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:44:16.202016
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                               Docket No. 41233

IN THE MATTER OF THE                                           )
TERMINATION OF THE PARENTAL                                    )   Twin Falls, November 2013 Term
RIGHTS OF JOHN (2013-17) DOE.                                  )
--------------------------------------------------------       )   2014 Opinion No. 3
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH &                                   )
WELFARE,                                                       )   Filed: February 7, 2014
                                                               )
     Petitioner-Respondent,                                    )   Stephen Kenyon, Clerk
                                                               )
v.                                                             )
                                                               )
JOHN (2013-17) DOE,                                            )
                                                               )
     Respondent-Appellant.                                     )

         Appeal from the District Court of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of
         Idaho, Bonneville County. Hon. Ralph L. Savage, Magistrate Judge.

         The judgment of the magistrate court terminating Doe’s parental rights is vacated
         and the case is remanded for further proceedings on IDHW’s petition for
         termination.

         Bonneville County Public Defender’s Office, Idaho Falls, for appellant.

         Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
              _______________________________________________

                                           ON THE BRIEFS
HORTON, Justice.
         This appeal arises from a termination of parental rights based on a Consent in Abeyance
(Consent). The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) filed a Petition for the
Termination of Parental Rights after a prolonged child protection proceeding involving John Doe
and his two children, S.M. and C.M. In the Consent, Doe agreed to the conditional termination of
his parental rights in exchange for the magistrate court vacating the hearing set on the
termination petition and having his children returned to his care on an extended home visit. Doe
was subsequently arrested and the magistrate court entered a judgment terminating Doe’s

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parental rights to both children on the grounds that Doe had signed the Consent and failed to
substantially comply with its terms. Doe timely appealed. We vacate the judgment.
                    I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       Doe is the father of two children, S.M., born in 2008, whose mother is Jane Doe I, and
C.M., born in 2011, whose mother is Jane Doe II. The termination action arises from a child
protection case that began in regard to S.M in May 2010, at which time S.M. was placed under
the protective supervision of IDHW. S.M. lived in and out of foster care until July 2011, at
which time the court authorized an extended home visit for S.M. in the home of Doe and Jane
Doe II. In April 2012, Doe and Jane Doe II were arrested for probation violations. Both S.M. and
C.M. were removed from the home and both children alternated between living with Doe and
Jane Doe II and foster care placements through January of 2013.
       IDHW filed a Petition to Terminate the Parental Rights of Doe as to both S.M. and C.M
on January 9, 2013, alleging abandonment, neglect, and abuse. Petitions to terminate parental
rights were also filed against Jane Doe I and II, however, neither is a party to this appeal.
       The magistrate court directed the parties to engage in a settlement conference. As a result
of negotiations, on March 18, 2013, Doe appeared before the magistrate judge and executed the
Consent. The Consent provided, in pertinent part, as follows:
               I understand that, upon my signing this consent, IDHW will (1) request
       that the termination trial set for April 22-24, 2013, be vacated, (2) withdraw its
       motion to suspend reunification efforts pursuant to Rule 41(j) of the Idaho
       Juvenile Rules (IJR) and request that the resulting order suspending reunification
       efforts be rescinded, and (3) request authorization to immediately commence an
       extended home visit, in accordance with IJR 42.
                                                    ***
               I agree to sign this consent with the understanding that it will be held in
       abeyance until the child protection case is dismissed, at which time the consent
       will also be dismissed, or until the court finds that I have failed to substantially
       comply with the tasks pertaining to me in the court orders and case plans listed
       above, at which time the consent shall be implemented by the court, or until a
       hearing is held on the petition to terminate my parental rights.
               I agree that this consent will only be implemented if the court finds that I
       have not substantially complied with the requirements set forth in the case plans
       and court orders of the child protection case. To the extent noncompliance is
       alleged, the court may sua sponte make its determination, following a hearing,
       that I have failed to comply, or in the alternative, IDHW and/or the guardian ad
       litem may bring a motion in which allegations of noncompliance are raised. I
       understand that the determination of whether this consent is implemented shall
       rest with the court, and that such determination shall not be made until a hearing

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on the allegations of noncompliance has occurred. I agree that IDHW and/or the
guardian ad litem will need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence or the
court will need to find by a preponderance of the evidence that I have failed to
substantially comply with all of the tasks in the case plans and the requirements
set forth in the court orders from the period of time commencing on the date I sign
this consent.
        If the court determines, following a hearing, that I have failed to
substantially comply with the tasks in the case plans and the requirements in the
court orders, I agree that termination of my parental rights will be in the best
interest of my children. I agree that being arrested and incarcerated would may be
a substantial violation of the requirements pertaining to this agreement. I also
agree that positive urinalysis results would be a substantial violation.
        In exchange for the benefits set forth herein, by signing this consent I
hereby agree that IDHW has exercised reasonable efforts to reunify me with my
children throughout the life of this child protection case, and I waive any
requirement that may have existed that would have required IDHW to prove that
such reasonable efforts were satisfied.
        I understand that, absent allegations of noncompliance, this consent shall
be vacated when the child protection case is dismissed.
        I also agree and understand that if the court determines, following a
hearing, that I have not been in substantial compliance with the tasks and
requirements of the case plans and court orders from now until a hearing on the
allegations, that the court will accept this consent and issue a termination decree
and judgment.
        I also understand that if I fail to comply in minor respects with the tasks
and requirements of the court orders and case plans to such an extent that
dismissal of the child protection case does not occur but such noncompliance is
found by the court or deemed by IDHW to be insufficient for the court to
implement this consent, a hearing on the petition to terminate my parental rights
nevertheless is not barred by this agreement.
        Subject to the aforementioned conditions of this abeyance, i.e. if the court
determines upon motion or sua sponte, following a hearing, that I have failed to
substantially comply with all of the tasks and requirements of the case plans and
court orders in this child protection case, I do hereby give my full and free consent
to the complete and absolute termination of my parental rights to the said
children, hereby relinquishing completely and forever, all legal rights, privileges,
duties and obligations, including all rights of inheritance to and from the said
children, and I do hereby expressly waive my right to hearing on the petition to
terminate my parental relationship with respect to the said children, and
respectfully request the petition be granted.
        I do hereby state that I have had explained to me the meaning of
termination proceedings and that all of my legal rights to the said children of
whatsoever kind and nature, and specifically including the right to the care,
custody, and control of said children or any rights of inheritance, are hereby
relinquished and waived. Subject to the aforementioned abeyance, I do further
waive all notice of hearing for filing of said termination or any further

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           proceedings in this matter, and I do waive my right to appeal the court’s
           determination regarding my noncompliance and my right to appeal the resulting
           decree and judgment stemming from said termination.
                   Subject to the consent in abeyance contained herein, I do, therefore,
           petition the above­entitled court to terminate my parental rights to [S.M.] and
           [C.M.], and do state that it is my belief that such action is in the best interest of
           my children.
(Emphasis added).
           Based upon Doe’s execution of the Consent, the court vacated the scheduled termination
trial and granted Doe and Jane Doe II a 90 day home visit with S.M. and C.M. Approximately
three weeks later, Doe was arrested for alleged violations of his probation. The children were
removed from the home on April 10, 2013. IDHW filed its Motion to Implement Consents in
Abeyance on April 16, 2013. A hearing on IDHW’s motion began on May 13, 2013, but was not
completed.
           Following the hearing, Doe’s attorney sought to withdraw from the case. On June 12,
2013, the court granted Doe’s attorney’s Motion to Withdraw. 1 On July 3, 2013, twenty-one days
after the order permitting Doe’s attorney to withdraw, the magistrate court entered a final
judgment in favor of IDHW, terminating Doe’s parental right to his children. In a companion
order, the court simply stated that the termination of Doe’s parental rights was “justified on the
grounds that said father did sign a consent in abeyance, and due to his failure to substantially
comply with the requirements set forth therein, and due to his failure to comply with Rule
11(b)(3) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, the consent was implemented. . . .”
                                         II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
           In general, this Court reviews a termination of parental rights “to determine whether there
is substantial and competent evidence” to support the termination. Doe v. Doe, 149 Idaho 392,
395, 234 P.3d 716, 719 (2010) (quoting Doe v. State, 137 Idaho 758, 760, 53 P.3d 341, 343
(2002)). However, whether a magistrate court correctly applied the law to the facts “is a question
of law and is subject to free review by this Court.” In re Baby Boy Doe, 127 Idaho 452, 456, 902
P.2d 477, 481 (1995).
                                                  III. ANALYSIS
           Doe argues termination of parental rights based on the Consent was improper as I.C. §
16-2005 does not authorize conditional consents to the termination of parental rights or consents

1
    The record does not reflect that Doe was served with the order.

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that are held in abeyance. IDHW argues that although the Consent Doe signed was not identical
to the form provided in I.C. § 16-2005(4), the additional language added by the parties was valid
and the magistrate court had the authority to accept the Consent. Ultimately, we do not agree
with IDHW and vacate the judgment terminating Doe’s parental rights. We do so for two
reasons. First, Idaho law governing termination of the parent and child relationship provides no
authority for a court to accept and enforce a conditional consent to the termination of parental
rights. To the contrary, a conditional consent directly conflicts with Idaho law and a termination
based on such a conditional consent is invalid. Second, without valid consent, termination of
parental rights under I.C. § 16-2005 must be based on grounds which are established by clear and
convincing evidence. As no valid consent was obtained, nor any grounds for termination
established, the judgment terminating Doe’s parental rights must be vacated.
A. This Court may consider the propriety of the Consent.
          Before reaching the merits of this appeal, this Court addresses two issues raised by
IDHW. IDHW moved to dismiss Doe’s appeal on the grounds that Doe waived his right to
appeal a termination of his parental rights in the Consent. This Court denied IDHW’s motion
because if the Consent is invalid, then IDHW is not entitled to enforce the provision regarding
waiver of the right to appeal. Ultimately, the question of enforceability of the waiver provision
goes hand in hand with the question of whether the magistrate court had the authority to accept
this Consent. We decline to enforce a waiver provision contained in an invalid Consent to
termination of parental rights.
          IDHW also asserts that Doe failed to timely appeal the order that incorporated the
Consent, arguing that Doe was required to appeal the magistrate court’s acceptance of the
Consent within forty-two days under I.R.C.P. 83. This is an argument regarding the scope of this
Court’s review, and IDHW asserts that this Court should only consider whether the magistrate
court had an appropriate basis for issuing the termination decree but not consider the Consent
itself.
          Despite IDHW’s assertions, the order entered by the magistrate court that accepted the
Consent was not appealable because it was not a final order of termination. The order accepted
and incorporated the Consent, vacated the hearing to terminate parental rights, rescinded the
suspension of reunification efforts, and ordered a home visit. While I.R.C.P. 83 dictates that
certain judgments or orders must be appealed to the district court within 42 days, this order was

                                                5
not appealable. Under I.A.R. 11.1 and I.R.C.P. 83(a), this was not a final judgment terminating
Doe’s parental rights, nor a final judgment of any kind as contemplated by I.A.R. 11 as it did not
grant IDHW the relief it sought. Further, there is no appeal provided by statute for an order of
this type under the Child Protective Act or the Termination of Parent and Child Relationship Act.
See I.C. §§ 16-1625; 16-2014; 16-1512. Rather, the order approving the Consent was an
interlocutory order subject to review on appeal from the judgment terminating Doe’s parental
rights. I.A.R. 17(e)(1)(A).
B. Idaho does not recognize conditional consent to the termination of parental rights and a
   termination of parental rights based on conditional consent is invalid.
       Doe argues that Chapter 20, Title 16 of the Idaho Code, governing the termination of
parent and child relationships, does not authorize a consent in abeyance. More specifically, he
argues that the Consent does not conform to the dictates of I.C. § 16-2005(4). IDHW argues that
because I.C. § 16-2003 grants the magistrate court exclusive jurisdiction over the termination of
parental rights, the court had the authority to order the parties to submit to a settlement
conference and the ability to hold a consent in abeyance. IDHW also argues that the form of
consent provided in I.C. § 16-2005(4) is merely a suggestion and there is no prohibition against
inclusion of additional language.
       If “a court has jurisdiction over the child under the child protective act, chapter 16, title
16, Idaho Code, that court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the action to terminate parental
rights.” I.C. § 16-2003. The purpose of Chapter 20, Title 16 of the Idaho Code is to “[p]rovide
for voluntary and involuntary severance of the parent and child relationship” and to “[p]rovide
permanency for children who are under the jurisdiction of the court through the child protective
act.” I.C. § 16-2001(1)(a)–(b).
       “Implicit in this chapter is the philosophy that wherever possible family life should be
strengthened and preserved” and that the issue of termination of parental rights “is of such vital
importance as to require a judicial determination in place of attempts at severance by contractual
arrangements.” I.C. § 16-2001(2). Setting aside for the moment the parents’ interests in such
proceedings, we have great concern for the instability created in the lives of children when there
is uncertainty as to the efficacy of parental consent to termination of parental rights. As we have
observed in the past, clear guidelines in such circumstances are necessary as uncertainty “often
results in tragedy for the child.” Petition of Steve B.D., 111 Idaho 285, 290, 723 P.2d 829, 834

                                                6
(1986) (quoting Matter of Andersen, 99 Idaho 805, 818, 589 P.2d 957, 970 (1978) (Bakes, J.,
dissenting)).
           Termination of the parental relationship is permitted if the court finds statutory grounds
for termination exist or with the consent of the parent pursuant to I.C. § 16-2005(4). Idaho Code
§ 16-2005(4) prescribes the formalities for voluntary termination of parental rights, providing in
pertinent part:
                  The court may grant an order terminating the [parent-child] relationship
           where a consent to termination in the manner and form prescribed by this chapter
           has been filed by the parent(s) of the child in conjunction with a petition for
           adoption initiated by the person or persons proposing to adopt the child . . . no
           subsequent hearing on the merits of the petition shall be held. Consents required
           by this chapter must be witnessed by a district judge or magistrate of a district
           court.
           The statute continues that the consent “shall be substantially in the following form” and
provides an example. Id. The form provided in the statute states:
           I (we), the undersigned, being the ... of ..., do hereby give my (our) full and free
           consent to the complete and absolute termination of my (our) parental right(s), to
           the said ..., who was born ..., ..., unto ..., hereby relinquishing completely and
           forever, all legal rights, privileges, duties and obligations, including all rights of
           inheritance to and from the said ..., and I (we) do hereby expressly waive my (our)
           right(s) to hearing on the petition to terminate my (our) parental relationship with
           the said ..., and respectfully request the petition be granted.
I.C. § 16-2005(4). When a document is to be “substantially” in a certain form, this Court requires
substantial compliance with the statute. See Farm Bureau Fin. Co., Inc. v. Carney, 100 Idaho
745, 749, 605 P.2d 509, 513 (1980). Generally, substantial compliance does not require absolute
conformity with the form prescribed in the statute, but does require a good faith attempt to
comply, and that the general purpose detailed in the statute is accomplished. Black’s Law
Dictionary 1566 (9th ed. 2009).
           Under I.C. § 16-2005(4), the critical requirement for voluntary consent to termination is
that the parent gives “full and free consent to the complete and absolute termination” of parental
rights. The requirement that “free” consent is given means the consent is given “by choice, rather
than by compulsion or constraint.” 2 Black’s Law Dictionary 734 (9th ed. 2009). “Complete”

2
    The proceedings at the time of the execution of the Consent suggests the existence of compulsion and constraint:

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indicates that the termination must be of the entirety of the parent-child relationship. “Absolute”
means “[f]ree from restriction, qualification, or condition.” Id. at 7. “Termination” means the
parent is divested of “all legal rights, privileges, duties, and obligations.” I.C. § 16-2011
(emphasis added). Consistent with these principles, this Court has previously decided that a
conditional consent to termination of parental rights renders a termination order invalid. In re
Baby Boy Doe, 127 Idaho 452, 456–57, 902 P.2d 477, 481–82 (1995).
       As noted previously, the purported Consent was unambiguously conditional: “Subject to
the aforementioned conditions of this abeyance, … I do hereby give my full and free consent to
the complete and absolute termination of my parental rights…” We hold that this is not a valid
consent to the termination of parental rights. Doe agreed to termination of his parental rights
subject to at least three explicit conditions, one of which was having his children returned to his
care and control. This is the antithesis of consent to the absolute and complete termination of the
parent-child relationship. As Doe’s consent to termination was held in abeyance, it was neither
absolute nor complete.
       Although IDHW characterizes this as a tool to motivate parents, neither the Department
nor the courts are free to ignore the requirements of Idaho law. Thus, although IDHW is correct
that a consent to termination of parental rights need not take the precise form of the example
provided in I.C. § 16-2005(4), the Consent was not “substantially” in the form required by
statute. It utterly failed to accomplish the purpose of I.C. § 16-2005(4), which is voluntary
consent to the absolute and complete termination of the parental relationship. Accordingly, we
hold that the magistrate erred by terminating Doe’s parental rights on the basis of consent.
C. The magistrate erred by involuntarily terminating Doe’s parental rights without a
   showing by clear and convincing evidence of grounds for termination under I.C. § 16-
   2005(1).
       There are two methods of terminating parental rights, the first being voluntary by way of
consent. I.C. § 16-2005(4). The second method is involuntary termination which requires the

       Q [by Doe’s attorney]: Now we just mentioned to the Court you’re on Social Security Disability
       for some of the diagnoses of mental retardation. Do you have the ability to understand this
       consent?
       A: Yes.
       Q: To the best of your knowledge?
       A: To the best of my knowledge, yes. I just want my kids back.
       Q: Okay.
       A: I’m willing to do anything I have to do to get my kids back, stand on my foot on one leg and
       try to balance as best I can.
       Q: Okay, well they just want you to sign this consent, I think.

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court find that termination is in the child’s best interest and that at least one statutory condition,
such as abandonment, exists. I.C. § 16-2005(1). Idaho Code § 16-2005(5) provides that unless a
valid consent is executed, “the court shall hold a hearing.”
        Parents have a fundamental right to maintain a familial relationship, and to the “custody,
care and control” of their children; this right is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. State v.
Doe, 143 Idaho 383, 386, 146 P.3d 649, 652 (2006) (quoting In re Bush, 113 Idaho 873, 875, 749
P.2d 492, 494 (1988)). Because a fundamental liberty interest is at stake, if a hearing is
conducted, the grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights must be shown by clear and
convincing evidence. Doe v. Doe, 148 Idaho 243, 246, 220 P.3d 1062, 1065 (2009); see also I.C.
§ 16-2005(5). Thus, I.C. § 16-2009 directs that the “court’s finding with respect to grounds for
termination shall be based upon clear and convincing evidence under rules applicable to the trial
of civil causes.”
        Here, the Consent included the following language regarding the burden of proof:
        I understand that the determination of whether this consent is implemented shall
        rest with the court, and that such determination shall not be made until a hearing
        on the allegations of noncompliance has occurred. I agree that IDHW . . . will
        need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence or the court will need to find by
        a preponderance of the evidence that I have failed to substantially comply with all
        of the tasks in the case plans and the requirements set forth in the court orders.
The magistrate court held a hearing on May 13, 2013, where it heard testimony and reviewed
evidence regarding Doe’s compliance. 3 Although the hearing was not completed, the magistrate
court later found that Doe had “failed to substantially comply with the requirements set forth in
the consent in abeyance” which justified the subsequent termination of parental rights.
        The hearing on May 13, 2013 was, in a practical sense, a termination hearing because a
finding of noncompliance led to the implementation of the Consent and termination of Doe’s
rights. At the hearing, when confronted with what exactly was taking place, the magistrate judge
stated, “I think the issue here is whether or not the contractual consent in abeyance should be
executed, so it’s–and it’s similar as a contract.” 4

3
   Doe was not present for the hearing. His attorney informed the court that Doe had believed the hearing was
scheduled for the following day and that Doe lacked transportation to court.
4
  We note again that, “[i]mplicit in this chapter is the philosophy that wherever possible family life should be
strengthened and preserved and that the issue of severing the parent and child relationship is of such vital
importance as to require a judicial determination in place of attempts at severance by contractual arrangements,
express or implied, for the surrender and relinquishment of children.” I.C. § 16-2001 (emphasis added).

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       The Consent created an involuntary termination procedure disguised as a “substantial
compliance” hearing in which the decision whether to terminate Doe’s parental rights was based
upon a reduced burden of proof. Because this was an involuntary termination of parental rights
under I.C. § 16-2005, the magistrate court was required to comply with the statutory hearing
requirements of I.C. §16-2009.
       The next issue becomes whether Doe nonetheless waived his right to this heightened
standard. It is true that a party may waive constitutional or statutory rights. State v. Murphy, 125
Idaho 456, 457, 872 P.2d 719, 720 (1994). Indeed, this is reflected in the voluntary consent
procedures of I.C. § 16-2005(4). Generally, “parties may not, by agreement, ‘waive or abrogate
the requirements of statutes or rules of trial or appellate courts adopted to promote the
expeditious and orderly hearing of causes; nor can the parties by stipulation require the court to
do something which is not within its power.’ ” Clow v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs of Payette Cnty.,
105 Idaho 714, 717, 672 P.2d 1044, 1047 (1983) (quoting 83 C.J.S. Stipulations § 10 a. (1953)).
In the absence of valid consent, “grounds for termination shall be based upon clear and
convincing evidence.” I.C. § 16-2009 (emphasis added). We hold that the parties could not
stipulate to a hearing which involuntarily terminated Doe’s parental rights upon a reduced
evidentiary standard.
       In the absence of a finding that clear and convincing evidence demonstrated grounds for
terminating Doe’s parental rights under I.C. § 16-2005(1), we vacate the judgment of the
magistrate court. Accordingly, we need not address Doe’s additional arguments on appeal that
the Consent was obtained by overreaching and undue influence and that the court improperly
entered default judgment.
                                       IV. CONCLUSION
       We vacate the judgment of the magistrate court terminating Doe’s parental rights to S.M.
and C.M. We remand for further proceedings on IDHW’s petition for termination. We award
costs on appeal to Doe.

       Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices EISMANN, J. JONES and Justice Pro Tem
SCHROEDER, CONCUR.

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