Court Opinion

ID: 5140034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-23 15:07:45.565191+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:21.051714
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-2161-20

NEW JERSEY DIVISION
OF CHILD PROTECTION
AND PERMANENCY,

                   Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

D.L.M.,

                   Defendant-Appellant,

and

J.E.D. (deceased),

          Defendant.
_____________________________

IN THE MATTER OF THE
GUARDIANSHIP OF
T.J.M., a minor.
_____________________________

                   Submitted December 16, 2021 – Decided December 23, 2021

                   Before Judges Haas and Mitterhoff.
              On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
              Chancery Division, Family Part, Hudson County,
              Docket No. FG-09-0133-20.

              Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
              appellant (Caitlin A. McLaughlin, Designated Counsel,
              on the briefs).

              Andrew J. Bruck, Acting Attorney General, attorney for
              respondent (Sookie Bae-Park, Assistant Attorney
              General, of counsel; Sara M. Gregory, Deputy Attorney
              General, on the brief).

              Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
              attorney for minor (Meredith, Alexis Pollock, Deputy
              Public Defender, of counsel; Todd Wilson, Designated
              Counsel, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

        Defendant D.L.M. 1 is the biological mother of T.J.M., 2 born in February

2019. Defendant appeals from the March 18, 2021 judgment of guardianship

terminating her parental rights to the child. Defendant contends the Division of

Child Protection and Permanency (Division) failed to prove each prong of

N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a) by clear and convincing evidence. The Law Guardian

supports the termination on appeal as it did before the trial court.

1
  We refer to the parties and the child by initials to protect their privacy. R.
1:38-3(d)(12).
2
    T.J.M.'s biological father, J.E.D., passed away in August 2019.
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      Based on our review of the record and applicable law, we are satisfied that

the evidence in favor of the guardianship petition overwhelmingly supports the

decision to terminate defendant's parental rights.      Accordingly, we affirm

substantially for the reasons set forth by Judge Bernadette N. DeCastro in her

thorough written decision rendered on March 18, 2021.

      We will not recite in detail the history of the Division's interactions with

defendant and the child.     Instead, we incorporate by reference the factual

findings and legal conclusions contained in Judge DeCastro's decision. We add

the following brief comments.

      At birth, T.J.M. tested positive for phencyclidine (PCP).         Defendant

admitted using this drug for the past ten years, including the day before she gave

birth to the child. Hospital staff treated T.J.M. in the NICU as he went through

withdrawal, and the Division removed the child from defendant's custody when

the hospital discharged him a month later. The Division placed T.J.M. with his

two resource parents, who have cared for him since March 2019. The child has

thrived in that placement and the resource parents wish to adopt him.

      After the removal, the Division offered defendant numerous services to

help her reunite with her child. But defendant failed to engage or take any

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                                        3
meaningful steps to address the long-standing problems that prevented her from

safely parenting T.J.M.

      Dr. Elizabeth Stilwell, the Division's expert in psychology, conducted a

bonding evaluation between T.J.M. and defendant. Dr. Stilwell found that the

child had "a familiarity" with defendant but had no significant bond with her.

On the other hand, T.J.M. had "a secure, healthy attachment" to his resource

parents. Dr. Stilwell opined that T.J.M. would suffer significant and enduring

harm if his relationship with the resource parents was severed.

      Defendant declined to complete any psychological tests. Dr. Stilwell

concluded defendant's long history of substance abuse prevented her from

providing T.J.M. with adequate care and supervision, and that her capacity to do

so would not likely improve in the foreseeable future.

      Defendant testified at trial. She did not present any expert witnesses to

contradict Dr. Stilwell's opinions.

      In her thoughtful decision, Judge DeCastro reviewed the evidence

presented at trial and concluded that (1) the Division had proven all four prongs

of the best interests test by clear and convincing evidence, N.J.S.A. 30:4C-

15.1(a); and (2) termination of defendant's parental rights was in T.J.M.'s best

interests. In this appeal, our review of the trial judge's decision is limited. We

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                                        4
defer to her expertise as a Family Part judge, Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394,

413 (1998), and we are bound by her factual findings so long as they are

supported by sufficient credible evidence. N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v.

M.M., 189 N.J. 261, 278-79 (2007) (citing In re Guardianship of J.T., 269 N.J.

Super. 172, 188 (App. Div. 1993)).

      Applying these principles, we conclude that Judge DeCastro's factual

findings are fully supported by the record and, in light of those facts, her legal

conclusions are unassailable. Children are entitled to a permanent, safe an d

secure home. We acknowledge "the need for permanency of placements by

placing limits on the time for a birth parent to correct conditions in anticipation

of reuniting with the child." N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v. C.S., 367 N.J.

Super. 76, 111 (App. Div. 2004). As public policy increasingly focuses on a

child's need for permanency, the emphasis has "shifted from protracted efforts

for reunification with a birth parent to an expeditious, permanent placement to

promote the child's well-being." Ibid. (citing N.J.S.A. 30:4C-11.1). That is

because "[a] child cannot be held prisoner of the rights of others, even those of

his or her parents. Children have their own rights, including the right to a

permanent, safe and stable placement." Ibid.

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      The question then is "whether the parent can become fit in time to meet

the needs of the children." N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v. F.M., 375 N.J.

Super. 235, 263 (App. Div. 2005); see also N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v.

P.P., 180 N.J. 494, 512 (2004) (indicating that even if a parent is trying to

change, a child cannot wait indefinitely).      After carefully considering the

evidence, Judge DeCastro reasonably determined that defendant was unable to

parent T.J.M. and would not be able to do so for the foreseeable future. Under

those circumstances, we agree with the judge that any further delay of permanent

placement would not be in the child's best interests.

      Affirmed.

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