Court Opinion

ID: 4111777
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-28 19:19:49.381201+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:10.874775
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                   Washington State
                                                   Court of Appeals
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                                    Division Two

                                            DIVISION II                                     December 28, 2016

 In the Matter of the Welfare of:                                       No. 47903-6-II
                                                                        (Consolidated)
 JB, Jr., 11/12/12.
                                                                PART PUBLISHED OPINION

 In the Matter of the Guardianship of:                                  No. 47918-4-II

 JB, Jr.

 D.O.B. 11/12/2012

           BJORGEN, C.J. — Appellant, JB, Sr., appeals the juvenile court’s orders terminating the

parental rights of JB, Sr. and KB as to JB, Jr. and denying the parents’ petition to establish a

guardianship for JB, Jr. with his grandparents AB and SB as guardians.

           JB, Sr. argues that (1) the juvenile court erroneously considered the child’s best interest

under RCW 13.34.190(1)(b) before making the prerequisite determination on parental unfitness

under RCW 13.34.180; (2) substantial evidence does not support the juvenile court’s findings of

fact related to RCW 13.34.180(1)(f); (3) substantial evidence does not support the juvenile

court’s findings that termination is in the child’s best interest; (4) the juvenile court erred by not

making a specific finding that a guardianship generally was not in the child’s best interest; (5)

the juvenile court erred by not considering JB, Jr.’s Indian heritage; (6) the juvenile court

violated the separation of powers doctrine by accessing the Judicial Information System; and (7)

the juvenile court violated the appearance of fairness doctrine.

           In the published portion of this opinion, we hold that in a hybrid termination and

guardianship proceeding, where the only contested issues are whether “continuation of the parent
No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
 With No. 47918-4-II)

and child relationship clearly diminishes the child’s prospects for early integration into a stable

and permanent home,” RCW 13.34.180(1)(f), and whether a guardianship or termination is in the

child’s best interest, the juvenile court does not err by considering the proposed guardianship

placement or the child’s potential adoptive home in determining whether termination factor (f),

regarding “early integration,” has been established. Even though these considerations implicitly

touch on the child’s best interest, examination of that evidence is proper at this stage.

       In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we hold that the juvenile court did not err in its

findings of fact and conclusions of law and that it did not violate the separation of powers or

appearance of fairness doctrines. We decline to consider whether the juvenile court erred in

failing to consider JB, Jr.’s Indian heritage generally, because this issue was not sufficiently

raised to the trial court. RAP 2.5(a).

       Accordingly, we affirm.

                                              FACTS

       On November 12, 2012, JB, Jr. was born to JB, Sr., his father, and KB, his mother. On

September 25, 2013, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) filed a petition for

the dependency of JB, Jr. after KB was arrested for shoplifting and the parents were found to be

using methamphetamine and heroin. On November 13, the juvenile court entered an order of

dependency, removed JB, Jr. from the parents’ home, and placed him with KB’s relative. In

June 2014, KB’s relative could no longer take care of JB, Jr., and he was placed in foster care,

where he remains.

       DSHS subsequently filed for termination of parental rights, alleging that all required

services had been offered to the parents, that the parents made little or no attempt to correct their

parental deficiencies through the services, and that the parents made little or no attempt to visit

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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their child regularly, among other matters. In response, the parents petitioned the court to

establish a guardianship for JB, Jr. with the grandparents, AB and SB, as guardians. DSHS

opposed the guardianship. The guardianship and termination matters were consolidated for

trial.1

          Upon the conclusion of trial, the juvenile court simultaneously entered a termination

order and a guardianship order with findings of fact and conclusions of law. The orders first

established that the parents stipulated to five of the required elements to either establish

termination or a guardianship. Compare RCW 13.34.180(1)(a)-(e) with RCW

13.36.040(2)(c)(i)-(v). In its termination order, the juvenile court determined that the

termination element of RCW 13.34.180(1)(f)—that continuation of the parent and child

relationship clearly diminishes the child’s prospects for early integration into a stable and

permanent home—was met. It further found that the termination, not the proposed guardianship,

was in JB, Jr.’s best interest. In pertinent part, the termination order reads:

                                           [Finding of Fact] IV

                  There is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the above-
          named child can be returned to the parents in the near future. [KB] is currently unfit
          to parent the child. . . . She has acknowledged that she is not able to care for her
          child due to her own issues and wants the child to be placed in a guardianship.

                  [JB, Sr.] is currently unfit to parent the child. . . . He has acknowledged that
          he is not able to care for his child due to his own issues and wants the child to be
          placed in a guardianship.

                                          [Finding of Fact] VII

                 Continuance of the parent-child relationship clearly diminishes the child’s
          prospects for early integration into a stable and permanent home. The Department
          can prove this element in one of two ways. In re Welfare of R.H, 176 Wash. App.
1
  In the unpublished portion of our opinion, we analyze the evidence and proceedings of this trial
in greater detail.
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      419, 428, 309 P.3d 620 (2013). First, the Department can prove that prospects for
      a permanent home exist but the parent-child relationship prevents the child from
      obtaining that placement. Second, the Department can prove the parent-child
      relationship has a damaging and destabilizing effect on the child that would
      negatively impact the child's integration into any permanent and stable placement.
      A guardianship is material under R.H. as to whether the Department has established
      this element. The parents have filed a guardianship petition . . . naming [AB] and
      [SB] as proposed guardians, and the court has reviewed RCW 13.36 and the case
      law on this statute.
      ....
              Children already being in the [grandparents’] home is not the standard.
      Removing children from a home versus establishing a guardianship is not the same
      thing. No parent or custodian is perfect, but the home must be safe and stable for
      children. The court does find that the [parents and grandparents] are family and
      that they love [JB, Jr.]. Family is important. But, the court is not convinced that
      the[y] have the skills necessary to care for the child or that they have a home that
      is appropriate for the child.
      ....
              The child, [JB, Jr.] is a toddler and has been in foster care placements with
      maternal relatives and then his current placement the majority of his life. He has
      been in his current placement for a year, and it is safe, stable and appropriate. This
      placement is meeting his needs and is a potential adoptive home. The Department
      has proven that prospects for a permanent home exist but that the parent-child
      relationship prevents the child from obtaining that placement. The only option for
      a permanent, safe and stable home for the child is by an adoption. That home will
      not be able to adopt [JB, Jr.] if the parents retain their parental rights.

                                     [Finding of Fact] VIII

               An order terminating all parental rights is in the best interests of the minor
      child. [JB, Jr.] needs a permanent and stable home and his current placement is
      safe, stable and appropriate. [KB] and [JB, Sr.] have not been able to care for this
      child and indicated that they wanted [AB and SB] to care for the child. The needs
      of the child are being met by the current home for the child, and not by the parents.
      ....
                                     [Conclusion of Law] II

              That it would be in the best interest of the minor child, including the child’s
      health and safety, that the parent-child relationship between the above-named child
      and [KB] mother, and [JB, Sr.], father, be terminated and that the child be placed
      in the custody of the [DSHS] for placement as best suits the needs of the child.
      ....

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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                                      [Conclusion of Law] IV

               That an order terminating the parent and child relationship between [KB],
       mother. [JB, Sr.], father and [JB, Jr.], child, is in the best interests of the child. An
       order establishing a guardianship under RCW 13.36 is not in the best interests of
       the child.

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 97-99. The juvenile court’s guardianship order substantially mirrored the

above findings and conclusions.

       JB, Sr. appeals.

                                            ANALYSIS

       JB, Sr. argues that the juvenile court erroneously considered the child’s best interest

under RCW 13.34.190(1)(b) before making the prerequisite determination on parental unfitness

under RCW 13.34.180. We disagree.

       Under RCW 13.34.180, a party seeking termination of a parent-child relationship must

establish the following:

       (a) That the child has been found to be a dependent child;
       (b) That the court has entered a dispositional order pursuant to RCW 13.34.130;
       (c) That the child has been removed or will, at the time of the hearing, have been
       removed from the custody of the parent for a period of at least six months pursuant
       to a finding of dependency;
       (d) That the services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 have been expressly and
       understandably offered or provided and all necessary services, reasonably
       available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable
       future have been expressly and understandably offered or provided;
       (e) That there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child
       can be returned to the parent in the near future.
       ....
       (f) That continuation of the parent and child relationship clearly diminishes the
       child’s prospects for early integration into a stable and permanent home.

In addition, a court must also find that termination “is in the best interests of the child.” RCW

13.34.190(1)(b).

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       In support of his argument, JB, Sr. cites In re Welfare of A.B., 168 Wash. 2d 908, 911, 232
P.3d 1104 (2010), where the court described the two-step process a juvenile court must take

before terminating parental rights:

               By virtue of RCW 13.34.180(1) and RCW 13.34.190, a Washington court
       uses a two-step process when deciding whether to terminate the right of a parent to
       relate to his or her natural child. The first step focuses on the adequacy of the
       parents and must be proved by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence. The second
       step focuses on the child's best interests and need be proved by only a
       preponderance of the evidence. Only if the first step is satisfied may the court reach
       the second.

(Footnotes omitted.) In AB, the father argued that the juvenile court violated this two-step

process by examining AB’s best interests at the same time it was determining whether the father

was unfit. The AB court agreed because the juvenile court’s findings demonstrated that it

concurrently considered the child’s best interest and parental unfitness, stating:

               In the course of deciding whether to terminate Salas' parental rights, the trial
       court in this case reasoned in part that A.B. had been living with T.L. all of her life;
       that A.B. was fully integrated into T.L.’s home and had not developed a significant
       relationship with Salas; and “that it is in [A.B.’s] best interest to maintain a
       relationship with her father and his family provided that the continuation of that
       relationship does not constitute a perpetual challenge to the legitimacy of the
       placement with [T.L.].” In making these and other similar statements, the trial court
       was obviously focusing on A.B.’s best interests, as opposed to Salas’ current
       unfitness. Accordingly, we are required to hold that the trial court reasoned
       erroneously.

Id. at 926 (alterations in original) (footnotes omitted).

       Unlike AB, the procedural posture in the present case involved the juvenile court making

simultaneous determinations about whether termination or a guardianship was more appropriate

for JB, Jr. In addition, the parents stipulated to five of the required elements to establish either a

termination or guardianship. Compare RCW 13.34.180(1)(a)-(e) with RCW 13.36.040(2)(c)(i)-

(v). The only remaining elements for the juvenile court to determine were whether termination

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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element (f) was met, RCW 13.34.180(1)(f), and whether termination or a guardianship was in the

best interest of JB, Jr. RCW 13.34.190(1)(b); RCW 13.36.040(2)(a).

       Termination element (f) implicitly touches on the best interest of the child standard. To

establish element (f), DSHS must show “[t]hat continuation of the parent and child relationship

clearly diminishes the child’s prospects for early integration into a stable and permanent home.”

RCW 13.34.180(1)(f). It can prove this in two ways. First,

       [t]he State can prove prospects for a permanent home exist but the parent-child
       relationship prevents the child from obtaining that placement. Alternatively, the
       State can prove the parent-child relationship has a damaging and destabilizing
       effect on the child that would negatively impact the child’s integration into any
       permanent and stable placement.

In re Welfare of R.H., 176 Wash. App. 419, 428, 309 P.3d 620 (2013) (citations omitted). Both

ways of proving element (f) contemplate the availability of a permanent and stable home for the

child. To that extent, termination element (f) measures parental unfitness by examining whether

the parental relationship impedes the child’s welfare by diminishing its chances of entering into

an enduring home. This directly involves consideration of the child’s best interests.

       Further, if a party petitions the juvenile court to place a child with guardians, the court

should weigh the potential guardianship in calculating whether termination element (f) has been

established. As we noted in R.H., 176 Wash. App. at 428-29,

       The availability of a guardianship placement is material to determining whether the
       State can prove either of these means of satisfying RCW 13.34.180(1)(f).
        ....
       [T]he availability of a guardianship is evidence that the trial court should consider
       when determining whether the State has met its burden to prove RCW
       13.34.180(1)(f).

A juvenile court can only order a guardianship if it is in the child’s best interests. RCW

13.36.040(2)(a). In making this determination, the juvenile court considers

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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          the strength and nature of the parent and child bond, the benefit of continued
          contact with the parent or the extended family, the need for continued State
          involvement and services, and the likelihood that the child may be adopted if
          parental rights are terminated.

In re Welfare of A.W., 182 Wash. 2d 689, 711-12, 344 P.3d 1186 (2015) (emphasis added).

          Thus, when the juvenile court considers whether termination element (f) has been

established, R.H. allows it to consider the proposed potential guardianship. R.H., 176 Wash. App.

at 428-29. In turn, that guardianship can only be established by determining whether it is in the

child’s best interest, which requires consideration of the parent-child bond and the potential

adoptive home. Id.; A.W., 182 Wash. 2d at 711-12. Coming full circle, when a juvenile court

determines whether element (f) is established, it necessarily considers to some degree what is in

the child’s best interest. Cf. In re Dependency of K.D.S., 176 Wash. 2d 644, 656, 294 P.3d 695

(2013).

          Under these principles, when the juvenile court in the present case was determining

whether termination element (f) was met, it was permitted to consider the prospects of JB, Jr.’s

current foster home placement and the grandparents’ suitability as guardians. In addition, the

implicit consideration of the best interests of JB, Jr. in the juvenile court’s determination whether

DSHS established termination element (f) does not run afoul of the two-step process outlined in

A.B. In A.B., 168 Wash. 2d at 926-27, the juvenile court’s findings explicitly considered the child’s

best interest when determining parental unfitness under RCW 13.34.180. In contrast to A.B., the

juvenile court here recognized that the parents were unfit first. In finding four, it noted that both

parents are “unfit” and “not able to care for [their] child,” but wanted JB, Jr. to be placed with

the grandparents as guardians. CP at 97. In finding seven, the juvenile court ruled that

termination element (f) had been met because the grandparents were unsuitable as guardians and

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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that the parents would interfere with the prospect of the stable adoptive home—both proper

considerations under R.H.. With the hybrid nature of this termination and guardianship

proceeding, we cannot say that the court’s findings erroneously focused on JB, Jr.’s interest,

given the inherent overlap between termination element (f) and what will be in the child’s best

interest. Accordingly, JB, Sr.’s claim fails, and we affirm the juvenile court.

       A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion will

be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public record

pursuant to RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                      ADDITIONAL FACTS

                   I. EVIDENCE RELATED TO TERMINATION AND GUARDIANSHIP

       At the bench trial, numerous witnesses testified, including the parents, grandparents, and

an amalgam of DSHS employees. Their testimony established the facts detailed below.

1.     Parents’ Fitness

       Pursuant to a dependency dispositional order, the parents were ordered, among other

things, to participate in urinary analyses, drug and alcohol assessments, and parenting classes.

Both parents made little to no progress with the court-ordered requirements. Although the

parents were permitted visitation during the dependency, they very sporadically visited JB, Jr.

When they did visit him, they appeared to be under the influence of drugs or very tired. At the

time of the termination hearing, the parents had active warrants for their arrest.

2.     Proposed Guardianship

       The grandparents had prior criminal histories and had been involved with DSHS. They

failed to submit required personal statements to DSHS explaining what they had done to ensure

these issues did not reoccur. The grandparents also allowed the parents to live in their residence

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
 With No. 47918-4-II)

while doing drugs. In 2014 a conflict between the grandparents arose, resulting in issuance of a

domestic violence no contact order against AB, protecting SB. On a surprise visit to do a walk-

through of the grandparents’ home, witnesses testified that the home smelled of animal urine and

feces, some of the rooms had exposed wires, and the floor was covered with clutter and soiled

diapers. An unidentified person was observed sleeping in one of the bedrooms. The bedroom of

MV—SB’s child, who is a youth registered sex offender living with the grandparents—was

observed without a functioning or properly set up alarm. MV’s sex offender status required the

grandparents to have this alarm properly set up and functioning.

3.      Potential Adoptive Parents

        At the time of trial, JB, Jr. had been living with his foster parents for a year. The foster

parents completed the home study process, background checks, and training in order to adopt JB,

Jr. Furthermore, they were taking care of JB, Jr.’s special needs. No issues or concerns were

reported after a DSHS visit to the foster parents’ home.

                                 II. JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

        Midway through trial, the juvenile court stated that it might need to access the Judicial

Information System (JIS) regarding the grandparents to ascertain whether placing JB, Jr. with

them was appropriate. The JIS “is the primary information system for courts in Washington,”

providing an individual’s criminal history information and involvement in other proceedings.

https://www.courts.wa.gov/jis/. The juvenile court recognized that while RCW 2.28.2102 was

not in effect at the time of trial, it believed the statute “codifie[d] what is generally the law

anyway.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 425, 431. Thus, the juvenile court stated it would look

2
 RCW 2.28.210 allows a court to access the JIS before granting relief in a number of
proceedings including for termination and guardianship.
                                                   10
No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
 With No. 47918-4-II)

at the JIS information unless any party objected. The parties and juvenile court all agreed that

the court could consider the JIS information so long as the parties were given an opportunity to

provide contextual or rebuttal evidence. The JIS information on the grandparents was admitted

as exhibits 36 and 37.

                  III. JUVENILE COURT’S QUESTIONING OF THE GRANDPARENTS

       After the parties had finished their examinations of the grandparents, the juvenile court

took the opportunity to question both individuals.

       First, the court brought out AB’s earlier testimony that while he knew MV was a sexually

aggressive youth, he did not know the details. It questioned how that could be when MV was

living in his home. The juvenile court also inquired about AB’s involvement with a third-party

custody action, referring to his early testimony that a child had been “placed” with AB. RP at

359. However, the juvenile court’s questions revealed that his characterization of that as a

placement was inappropriate when the third-party custody action had been unopposed. The

juvenile court then inquired about the character of the domestic violence no contact order entered

against him. Even though AB alleged there was no domestic violence between him and SB, the

juvenile court brought out that this type of no contact order requires a finding of domestic

violence before being issued.

       As to SB, the court questioned her about the domestic violence no contact order. The

following exchange occurred:

               THE COURT: You said that you filled out paper work . . . after speaking
       with the court facilitator, and that she told you to put something down?
               Did she tell you to lie?
               SB: She didn't tell me to particularly lie, but she said I had to say something
       or it wouldn't have been granted.
               THE COURT: And the statement that you made for that petition was under
       oath, correct?

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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               SB: I was never under oath. . .
               THE COURT: The statement on the form that you filled out said, “this is
       under penalty of perjury,” correct?
               SB: Yes.
               THE COURT: So you were under oath, correct?
               SB: Yes, correct.
               THE COURT: And the statement you made under oath was a lie; is that
       correct?
               SB: Correct.

RP at 473.

       The juvenile court then asked SB why she did not submit certain documents to DSHS:

                THE COURT: And so your statement has been that you didn’t submit [a
       personal statement] because [DSHS] told you it was a waste of time, but you
       continued to submit other materials.
                So can you explain to me why you would find it worth your time to submit
       a number of other materials, but not that particular material?
                SB: Because they knew my history, so I didn’t feel that I technically had
       to sit down and write out a book as to what happened in my history . . .
                THE COURT: Okay.
                So the reason you didn’t do it wasn’t because [DSHS] told you it was a
       waste of time, but because you didn’t want to take the time to do it?”
                SB: No. I would have taken the time gladly.

RP at 475-76.

       The juvenile court also questioned SB about her beliefs regarding MV’s safety risks:

               THE COURT: So you do or do not believe that [MV]’s a risk to your
       daughters?
               SB: I don’t believe that there is a safety risk to my daughters, no.
               THE COURT: Well, isn’t sexual touching a safety risk?
               SB: I don’t leave him unattended with my children.
               THE COURT: Okay. But you . . . did not have functioning monitors on
       [MV]’s room, correct?
               SB: The battery was working that night before.
               ....
               THE COURT: So it’s your testimony that just coincidentally, before they
       arrived there, the battery had simply just died?
               SB: Yes, because it was working the night before when I had turned it on.

RP at 478-79.

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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       Then, referring to SB’s earlier testimony that she would not allow DSHS into her home

on a visit in May without a witness, she and the juvenile court had the following exchange:

                THE COURT: Do you own a cell phone?
                SB: Yes, I do.
                THE COURT: And you took a selfie with that cell phone, correct?
                SB: Yes I did.
                THE COURT: So it has a functioning camera on it?
                SB: Yes.
                THE COURT: Does it have a video camera on it?
                SB: Yes.
                THE COURT: Did you have that back in May?
                SB: Not that phone. . .
                THE COURT: Okay.
                Did you have a phone back in May that had a functioning camera or video camera
       on it?
              SB: Yes.
              THE COURT: Okay.
              And it’s your testimony that you would not allow the Department into your home
       in May without a witness, correct?
              SB: Correct.
              THE COURT: And why didn’t you simply just use your phone to record the
       visit?
              SB: Because I didn’t know at that time if I was allowed to or not.

RP at 479-80.

                                IV. WRITTEN AND ORAL RULINGS

       Upon the conclusion of trial, as discussed in the published portion of our opinion, the

juvenile court simultaneously entered a termination order and a guardianship order with findings

of fact and conclusions of law. These orders established: (1) that all six elements required for

termination had been established by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, including that

continuation of the parent and child relationship clearly diminishes JB, Jr.’s prospects for early

integration into a stable and permanent home, RCW 13.34.180(1)(f); and (2) that termination,

rather than a guardianship, was in the best interest of JB, Jr.. RCW 13.36.040(2)(a); RCW

13.34.190(1)(b).

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        In its written orders and oral ruling, the juvenile court discussed the grandparents’ lack of

credibility in detail, generally finding that

        [AB] and [SB] were not credible and their lack of credibility was stun[n]ing to the
        court. They refused to state the truth and did not take responsibility for anything.
        Instead, they minimized, denied, and avoided the truth.

CP at 96; RP (June 19, 2015) at 13. The juvenile court cited numerous examples that caused it to

find the grandparents not credible, relying in part on its own questioning. In its oral ruling, the

juvenile court talked about “pinn[ing]” SB down:

                So ultimately, when I pinned [SB] down on this and asked her to be -- to
        explain to me that discrepancy between why bother turning anything in, it's only
        going to be a waste of time, while at the same time repeatedly turning things in -- I
        think the claim was 14 or 15 efforts to turn in a background check -- when she
        explained, ultimately when pinned down, she says, “Well, it would have been just
        too long. It would have been a book.” I think are the words. I have quotes on that.

RP (June 19, 2015) at 25 (emphasis added). The juvenile court also recognized that the

grandparents loved JB, Jr.

                                     ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS

                                   I. TERMINATION/GUARDIANSHIP

        JB, Sr. argues that (1) substantial evidence does not support the juvenile court’s finding

that termination element (f) was met; (2) substantial evidence does not support the juvenile

court’s finding that termination, rather than guardianship, is in the child’s best interest; (3) the

juvenile court erred by not making a finding that guardianship generally was not in the child’s

best interest; and (4) the juvenile court erred by not considering JB, Jr.’s Indian heritage. For the

reasons stated below, we hold that these claims fail.

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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1.     Standard of Review

       We review whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s findings of fact and

whether those findings support the conclusions of law. In re Welfare of L.N.B.-L., 157 Wash. App.
215, 243-44, 237 P.3d 944 (2010); In re Dependency of D.L.B., 188 Wash. App. 905, 914, 355
P.3d 345 (2015), aff’d, 186 Wash. 2d 103 (2016). Substantial evidence is evidence that would

persuade a fair-minded rational person of the truth of the declared premise. D.L.B., 188 Wn.

App. at 914. We do not reweigh the trial court evidence and defer to the juvenile court on issues

of witness credibility and persuasiveness of the evidence. Id.; In re A.V.D., 62 Wash. App. 562,

568, 815 P.2d 277 (1991). Unchallenged findings are verities on appeal. L.N.B.-L., 157 Wn.

App. at 243. We review conclusions of law that are mistakenly characterized as findings of fact

de novo. Id.

2.     Legal Principles

       A juvenile court may enter an order terminating all parental rights to a child if it finds the

six statutory elements in RCW 13.34.180(1) have been established by clear, cogent, and

convincing evidence. RCW 13.34.190(1)(a)(i); K.D.S., 176 Wash. 2d at 652. Clear, cogent, and

convincing evidence exists when the ultimate fact at issue is “highly probable.” K.D.S., 176
Wash. 2d at 653.

       Only termination element (f) is at issue, which required DSHS to establish

       [t]hat continuation of the parent and child relationship clearly diminishes the child’s
       prospects for early integration into a stable and permanent home.

RCW 13.34.180(1)(f). As relevant, DSHS can prove element (f) by showing that “prospects for

a permanent home exist but the parent-child relationship prevents the child from obtaining that

placement.” R.H., 176 Wash. App. at 428. “The availability of a guardianship placement is

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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material to determining whether the State can prove . . . RCW 13.34.180(1)(f).” Id. Along with

the elements in RCW 13.34.180, DSHS must also establish by a preponderance of the evidence

that termination is in the child’s best interest. RCW 13.34.190(1)(b); In re Welfare of M.R.H.,

145 Wash. App. 10, 24, 188 P.3d 510 (2008).

       Similar to termination, guardianships require many of the same elements to be

established, compare RCW 13.36.040(2)(c)(i)-(v) with RCW 13.34.180(1)(a)-(e), including that

a guardianship is in the child’s best interest—the only guardianship element disputed in this

appeal. RCW 13.36.040(2)(a). Thus, when a termination and guardianship petition are being

pursued simultaneously, the juvenile court determines whether a preponderance of the evidence

establishes termination or guardianship to be in the child’s best interest.

       In determining the child’s best interest, the juvenile court must “decide each case on its

own facts and circumstances.” A.W., 182 Wash. 2d at 711. Some factors a juvenile court can

consider are the qualifications of the proposed guardians, the strength and nature of the parent

and child bond, the benefit of continued contact with the parent or the extended family, the need

for continued DSHS involvement and services, and the likelihood that the child may be adopted

if parental rights are terminated. Id. at 711-12; In re Dependency of A.C., 123 Wash. App. 244,

254-55, 98 P.3d 89 (2004). “Where the parent’s interests conflict with the child’s rights to basic

nurturing, physical health, and safety, the rights of the child prevail.” A.W., 182 Wash. 2d at 712.

3.     Termination Element (f)

       JB, Sr. assigns error to the juvenile court’s finding seven and conclusion three in the

termination order, arguing that substantial evidence does not support termination element (f),

which in turn, undermines its conclusion that DSHS established RCW 13.34.180(1)(f) by clear,

cogent, and convincing evidence. We disagree that the juvenile court erred in these rulings.

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          Here, substantial evidence supports termination element (f), that “continuation of the

parent-child relationship clearly diminishes the child’s prospects for early integration into a

stable and permanent home.” RCW 13.34.180(1)(f). The parents failed to comply with the

dependency requirements ordered by the court. They visited JB, Jr. rarely, and when they did,

appeared under the influence of drugs. At the time of trial, they had active warrants for their

arrest.

          In addition, substantial evidence demonstrates that the guardianship would not lead to a

stable and permanent home. The record shows that the grandparents permitted the parents to live

at their residence while doing drugs. The grandparents failed to submit the required personal

statements to DSHS. There was also evidence of prior disputes between the grandparents, one of

which led to issuance of a domestic violence no-contact order. The record established in

addition that the grandparents’ home was unsanitary and unsafe for children.

          DSHS also provided evidence that JB, Jr. has potential adoptive parents, but adoption

was prevented by the existence of the parents’ parental rights. JB, Jr. was in his foster home for

a year, and his foster parents had completed the home study process and had shown they were

able to take care of his specific needs.

          For these reasons, substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding seven, which

in turn, supports conclusion three, that termination element (f) was proven by clear, cogent, and

convincing evidence.

4.        Best Interest of the Child

          JB, Sr. assigns error to the juvenile’s court’s finding that termination of parental rights,

rather than a guardianship, was in JB, Jr.’s best interest. Because substantial evidence supports

this finding, it was not erroneous.

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        As already examined above, the parents were determined to be unfit to parent JB, Jr. by

way of their stipulation to the first five elements of termination and the substantial evidence

supporting termination element (f). Further, the record established that the proposed guardians,

the grandparents (1) allowed the parents to be around JB, Jr. while actively using drugs; (2)

failed to submit personal statements explaining their criminal history and Child Protective

Services involvement; (3) had a potential domestic dispute; and (4) maintained an unsanitary and

potentially unsafe home for children. JB, Sr. points to several pieces of evidence that weigh in

favor of establishing a guardianship, rather than termination; primarily that JB, Jr. has a strong

bond with his parents and grandparents. The juvenile court, though, recognized that the parents

and grandparents “are family and that they love [JB] Jr.” CP at 96. This demonstrates that the

juvenile court weighed the competing evidence and factors, including the family’s bond with JB,

Jr., yet still determined that termination was in the child’s best interest. We do not reexamine the

juvenile court’s weighing of competing evidence. A.V.D., 62 Wash. App. at 568.

        Substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding that termination of parental

rights, rather than the proposed guardianship, was in JB, Jr.’s best interest. Accordingly, the

juvenile court did not err in this ruling.

5.      Finding Whether Guardianship Generally Was Not in the Child’s Best Interest

        JB, Sr. next argues that the juvenile court erred because it did not make a finding that a

guardianship generally was not in the best interests of JB, Jr. and only made a finding as to the

suitability of particular guardians, the grandparents. We disagree that this was an error and hold

that the juvenile court was not required to make this generalized finding.

        A juvenile court cannot enter an order of a guardianship unless specific guardians have

been proposed. Along with the juvenile court finding that a guardianship is in the child’s best

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interest, it must also determine either “the proposed guardian is qualified, appropriate, and

capable of performing the duties of guardian under RCW 13.36.050” or “[t]he proposed guardian

has signed a statement acknowledging the guardian’s rights and responsibilities toward the

child.” RCW 13.36.040(2)(b), (c)(vi) (emphasis added). Thus, the statute contemplates a

finding whether the specific, proposed guardianship would be in JB, Jr.’s best interest.3

       JB, Sr. argues that A.W., 182 Wash. 2d at 712-13 supports his contention that a generalized

guardianship finding is required. In A.W., the court examined whether the juvenile court was

required to enter a finding that the specifically identified guardians were in the child’s best

interest. See Id. It answered in the negative, holding that the juvenile court’s finding that a

guardianship generally was in the child’s best interest was sufficient to satisfy RCW

13.36.040(2). Id. at 713.

       Contrary to JB, Sr.’s position, the A.W. court did not further imply that a juvenile court’s

finding as to specific guardians would be insufficient. Since the elements in RCW 13.36.040

require the juvenile court to ultimately make findings about the specific proposed guardians, it

would be illogical to expand A.W.’s holding to require a generalized guardianship finding. Thus,

just as a finding of general guardianship is sufficient to satisfy RCW 13.36.040, we hold a

guardianship finding tailored to specific guardians satisfies RCW 13.36.040.

       For these reasons, JB, Sr.’s claim fails.

3
  Further, we have previously stressed the importance of an identified guardian in determining
whether to grant a continuance before proceeding to a trial on termination. R.H., 176 Wash. App.
at 423-24; In re Welfare of N.M., 184 Wash. App. 665, 672, 346 P.3d 762 (2014).

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6.     Indian Heritage

       JB, Sr. contends that even though JB, Jr. does not qualify under the Indian Child Welfare

Act (ICWA), or the state equivalent, chapter 13.38 RCW, the juvenile court erred by not

considering his Indian heritage through AB. We decline to address the merits of this argument

because it was not raised to the juvenile court.

       With exceptions not relevant to this appeal, we may refuse to review any claim of error

which was not raised in the juvenile court. RAP 2.5(a). The purpose of this rule is to afford the

juvenile court an opportunity to correct errors, which avoids unnecessary appeals and retrials. In

re Structured Settlement Payment Rights of Rapid Settlements, Ltd., 166 Wash. App. 683, 695, 271
P.3d 925 (2012). Generally, an argument neither pleaded nor argued to the juvenile court cannot

be raised for the first time on appeal. Wash. Fed. Sav. v. Klein, 177 Wash. App. 22, 29, 311 P.3d
53 (2013), review denied, 179 Wash. 2d 1019 (2014).

       The ICWA applies to the placement and custody of Indian children, who must be either

(a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and the

biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4); RCW 13.38.040(7). JB,

Sr. concedes that JB, Jr. does not qualify as an Indian child under these acts.4 Nonetheless, JB,

Sr. contends that the juvenile court erred by not considering JB’s Indian heritage generally. On

review of the record, however, JB, Sr. did not ask the juvenile court to consider his Indian

heritage generally in making its determinations. Nothing in JB, Sr.’s briefing, opening

statement, or closing argument to the juvenile court indicate that it should have considered this

4
 JB, Sr.’s petition for guardianship stated that JB, Jr. is not an Indian child and that “federal and
Washington State Indian Child Welfare Acts do not apply to these proceedings.” CP at 341.

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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fact. Accordingly, because this issue was not raised before the juvenile court, we decline to

reach its merits.

                                  II. JIS – SEPARATION OF POWERS

        The JIS “is the primary information system for courts in Washington,” providing a

person’s criminal history and involvement in other court proceedings.

https://www.courts.wa.gov/jis/. At the time of this trial, the juvenile court did not have explicit

authority to use the JIS in termination or guardianship proceedings. However, a bill had passed

enacting RCW 2.28.210, which allows a juvenile court to access the JIS during termination and

guardianship proceedings.

        Because RCW 2.28.210 was not in effect at the time of trial, JB, Sr. argues that the

juvenile court exceeded its authority and violated the separation of powers doctrine by accessing

the JIS and retrieving information about the grandparents. We disagree and hold that the

juvenile court did not violate the separation of powers doctrine.

        Separation of powers is a constitutional doctrine that defines the separation between the

three branches of our state’s government, judicial, executive and legislative, granting each

branch specific and limited powers. State v. Rice, 174 Wash. 2d 884, 900, 279 P.3d 849 (2012);

State v. Moreno, 147 Wash. 2d 500, 505, 58 P.3d 265 (2002).

        JB, Sr. contends that when the juvenile court looked at the JIS on its own initiative it was

either entering into the territory of the executive branch’s investigative power or the legislature’s

law making authority. We disagree on both points.

        First, the juvenile court was not legislating by modifying RCW 2.28.210. Instead, it

mentioned that in the future the bill would grant it explicit authority to rely on the JIS, but stated

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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it was not in effect yet. Recognizing this, the juvenile court provided the JIS information to all

parties and asked for their consent to reading it. This does not constitute improper legislating.

        Second, the juvenile court did not conduct an investigation reserved to the executive

branch. Courts are allowed to take judicial notice of certain facts. Generally courts may only

take judicial notice of a case presently before it or “in proceedings engrafted, ancillary, or

supplementary to it.” Swak v. Dep’t of Labor & Indus., 40 Wash. 2d 51, 53, 240 P.2d 560

(1952). However, under ER 201(b) a court may take judicial notice of certain adjudicative facts:

        A judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is
        either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2)
        capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy
        cannot reasonably be questioned.

The legislature established the JIS as an “automated, centralized, statewide information system

that serves the state courts,” and a committee regulates its functions. GR 31(c)(7); see also

chapter 2.68 RCW; https://www.courts.wa.gov/jis/. Even though RCW 2.28.210 was not in

effect, JB, Sr. cites to nothing that would indicate that the juvenile court was restricted from

utilizing the JIS. In fact, at the time of trial, the legislature had allowed juvenile courts to access

the JIS in actions for child custody by nonparents. RCW 26.10.135(1); see also In re Welfare of

R.S.G., 172 Wash. App. 230, 248, 289 P.3d 708 (2012). Thus, no evidence suggests that the JIS’s

accuracy could reasonably be questioned.

        The JIS allowed the juvenile court to ascertain the criminal histories and other

proceedings involving the grandparents, which were generally not disputed throughout the trial.

The juvenile court also gave the parties an opportunity to object or explain the information

contained in the JIS, which implicitly served as “be[ing] heard as to the propriety of taking

judicial notice and the tenor of the matter noticed.” ER 201(e). Thus, this information was

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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capable of accurate and ready determination. Because the JIS and the information contained

within satisfied ER 201(b), the juvenile court did not conduct an improper executive

investigation.

        Accordingly, because the juvenile court was neither impinging into the legislative or

executive branch, no separation of powers violation occurred.

                                   III. APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS

        Finally, JB, Sr. contends that the juvenile court violated the appearance of fairness

doctrine on three bases: (1) its initiative into looking at the JIS; (2) its “scathing” cross

examinations of the grandparents; and (3) its unnecessarily harsh rulings and findings of fact.

Br. of Appellant at 44. For the reasons discussed below, we hold that the juvenile court did not

violate this doctrine.

1.      Legal Principles

        Under the appearance of fairness doctrine a judicial proceeding is invalid if a reasonably

prudent, disinterested observer would conclude that a party did not obtain a fair, impartial, and

neutral hearing. In re Marriage of Wallace, 111 Wash. App. 697, 706, 45 P.3d 1131 (2002).

Prejudice is not presumed, and some evidence must be presented of a judge’s actual or potential

bias. Id. This evidence of a bias can take the form of an independent investigation, State v.

Madry, 8 Wash. App. 61, 70, 504 P.2d 1156 (1972), or disparaging comments. See In re

Dependency of O.J., 88 Wash. App. 690, 697, 947 P.2d 252 (1997). The entire record should be

considered cumulatively when determining if an observer would perceive bias. See In re

Disciplinary Proceeding Against Burtch, 162 Wash. 2d 873, 888, 175 P.3d 1070 (2008).

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2.       Judicial Information System

         JB, Sr. argues that the juvenile court’s initiative in looking at the JIS made it appear

biased or unfair. We disagree.

         As discussed above, the juvenile court’s examination of the JIS was not improper,

because it was not acting under a misreading of the statute and sought and obtained consent from

all parties before its examination of the JIS. In Madry, 8 Wash. App. at 63-66, 70, the trial court,

while presiding over the defendant’s criminal proceedings, actively investigated how frequently

the defendant’s hotel was involved with prostitution. The alleged prostitution had nothing to do

with the charges against the defendant, yet the trial court relied on that investigative evidence in

sentencing the defendant. Id. at 65-66, 70. Thus, the Madry court found that the appearance of

fairness doctrine was violated. Id. at 70.

         Here, the independent investigation aspect was not unfair because it allowed the parties to

provide context to information within the JIS, required their consent, and generally did not

introduce new issues before the court. In contrast with Madry, where the judge actively

investigated matters completely divorced from the case at hand, the juvenile court simply sought

clarification of the grandparents’ past criminal and case histories that were already brought out in

trial.

         Accordingly, the juvenile court’s use of the JIS did not create an appearance of bias or

unfairness.

3.       Questioning of Grandparents

         Next, JB, Sr. argues that the juvenile court’s examinations of the grandparents created an

appearance of bias. We disagree.

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No. 47903-6-II (Consolidated
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       The juvenile court’s questioning of AB and SB covered numerous topics. As to AB, the

court highlighted (1) his inability to understand MV’s status as a sexually aggressive youth; (2)

his deception as to his qualification in the third-party custody action; and (3) his inability to

comprehend the nature of a domestic violence no-contact order. As to SB, the court (1) pressed

SB into stating that she lied to get the no-contact order; (2) pointed out that SB was willing to

submit some materials to DSHS, but that she considered the personal statement a waste of time;

(3) pressed SB to admit whether she believed MV was a safety risk; (4) highlighted SB’s earlier

testimony that the battery for MV’s monitor had coincidentally died the night before; and (5)

inquired into SB’s refusal to allow DSHS to enter into her home without a witness when she

simply could have used her phone to record the event.

       Although we do recognize the juvenile court’s extensive line of questioning and

comments bordered on cross-examination, it did not reach the threshold to violate the appearance

of fairness doctrine. In Wallace, 111 Wash. App. at 704-06, the court held that the trial court did

not violate the appearance of fairness when it engaged in a brief line of questioning of the

husband in a divorce proceeding. The court’s questioning of the husband allowed it to clarify the

legal implication of the husband’s position, which would make valueless a piece of land the court

was about to assign his wife. Id. at 704-05. The Wallace court reasoned that such an inquiry

was proper because the court was just pointing out the “inevitable legal consequences of [the

husband]’s position.” Id. at 706.

       In a similar vein as Wallace, the juvenile court’s purpose was to clarify some of AB’s and

SB’s earlier testimony rather than to impeach them. We agree that the juvenile court’s actions

approached the threshold of an appearance of fairness violation. However, a juvenile court must

be afforded room to openly talk with families and get to the truth. In a proceeding that involved

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determining whether the child’s interest was best served by having the grandparents as guardians

or terminating the parent-child relationship altogether, the juvenile court had a delicate and

important task at hand. Given this context, bridling its ability to discern the truth may only have

impeded its ability to determine what was in JB, Jr.’s best interests. Accordingly, this claim

fails.

4.       Rulings and Findings of Fact

         JB, Sr. contends that the juvenile court’s rulings and findings of fact rose to the level of

an appearance of bias or unfairness. We disagree.

         The only comments that were questionable were the juvenile court’s description of the

grandparents’ lack of credibility as “stun[n]ing,” CP at 96, and its discussion of “pinn[ing]” SB

down. RP (June 19, 2015) at 25. In O.J., 88 Wn. App at 697, the trial court stated that leaving

the kids with their mother would “handicap[]” them. In finding no appearance of fairness

violation, the O.J. court focused on putting the potentially disparaging comment into context,

which showed an “awareness of and sympathy” despite a strong finding against the mother. Id.

Here, the juvenile court also recognized that the parents and grandparents “are family and that

they love [JB, Jr.].” CP at 96. Consistently with O.J., we believe any appearance of unfairness

caused by the “stunning” and “pinning” comments was ameliorated by the court’s demonstration

of empathy for the grandparents.

         Given this, and for the other reasons stated above, the juvenile court did not violate the

appearance of fairness doctrine.

                                           CONCLUSION

         In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we hold that the juvenile court did not err in its

findings or conclusions and that it did not violate the separation of powers or the appearance of

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fairness doctrines. We decline to consider JB, Sr.’s contention that the juvenile court should

have considered JB, Jr.’s Indian heritage more broadly than the ICWA requires.

          For these reasons, and for the reasons set out in the published portion of this opinion, we

affirm.

                                                        BJORGEN, C.J.
 We concur:

JOHANSON, J.

MAXA, J.

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