Court Opinion

ID: 9955065
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-27 16:12:53.596538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:14.514848
License: Public Domain

J-A02040-24

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

 IN THE INTEREST OF: M.J.P., A          :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                  :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
                                        :
 APPEAL OF: J.C.P., FATHER              :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :   No. 1292 MDA 2023

              Appeal from the Decree Entered August 18, 2023
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
                      Orphans’ Court at No(s): A-9180

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.C.P., A          :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                  :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
                                        :
 APPEAL OF: J.C.P., FATHER              :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :   No. 1293 MDA 2023

              Appeal from the Decree Entered August 18, 2023
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County
                      Orphans’ Court at No(s): A-9181

BEFORE: NICHOLS, J., KING, J., and SULLIVAN, J.

MEMORANDUM BY SULLIVAN, J.:                       FILED: MARCH 27, 2024

     J.C.P. (“Father”) appeals from the decrees involuntarily terminating his

parental rights to his daughters, M.J.P., born in February 2012, and A.C.P.,
J-A02040-24

born in November 2007 (collectively, “the Children”).1 Following our careful

review, we are constrained to vacate and remand with instructions.

       The factual and procedural history of this case is as follows. Father was

incarcerated in early 2016, following criminal convictions for, inter alia,

homicide by motor vehicle – DUI related. See N.T., 4/18/22, at 164. Father’s

maximum date of incarceration was in January 2024. See id. at 46, 163-164.

There is no dispute that Father completed all correctional programs required

of him in the prison system and maintained phone contact with the Children.

See id. at 47-52, 106.

       Mother, who was cohabitating with her paramour following Father’s

incarceration, gave birth to her paramour’s son, J.S., in January of 2016. See

id. at 79-80.2 Mother and her paramour have a history of domestic violence

which ultimately caused the Children’s removal from her custody in October

2016. See id. at 79-80. On that date, the police arrived at Mother’s home

and found her intoxicated with dried blood on her forehead while the Children

were present. See id. at 80. The police removed the Children, and the court

placed them in the emergency custody of Luzerne County Children and Youth

Services (“CYS”). See id. at 79-80.

____________________________________________

1 The trial court involuntarily terminated R.D.’s (“Mother”) parental rights by

separate decrees on August 18, 2023.             Mother did not appeal from either
decree.

2 J.S. is not a subject of this appeal.

                                           -2-
J-A02040-24

         In November 2016, the juvenile court adjudicated the Children

dependent and established permanency goals of reunification. See id. at 80.

On an unspecified date, CYS commenced monthly prison visits between the

Children and Father. See id. at 104-105. These visits, however, ended at

the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and never resumed. See id. at 105-06.

The court ordered supervised telephone contact between Father and the

Children in lieu of in-person visits.    In March 2022, the court additionally

granted Father video visits. See id. at 106; see also N.T., 5/9/22, at 17.

Father would call the Children on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and

“most of the phone calls last no more than 10 to 15 minutes.” N.T., 4/18/22,

at 89.

         On July 13, 2021, CYS filed petitions for the involuntary termination of

Father’s and Mother’s parental rights to the Children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2511(a)(1) and (b). The trial court initially appointed Todd Johns, Esquire

(“Attorney Johns”) as legal counsel and guardian ad litem for the Children.

See, e.g., Order, No. A-9181, 7/13/21. The court did not make an express

determination whether Attorney Johns was capable of acting as the Children’s

legal counsel and guardian ad litem, but rather delegated that responsibility

to counsel. See, e.g., id. CYS filed amended petitions with respect to Father

on October 12, 2021, wherein it averred that grounds for termination existed

under, inter alia, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).

                                        -3-
J-A02040-24

       For reasons not apparent in the record, the trial court then vacated its

order appointing Attorney Johns and stated merely, “It is further ordered that

Joseph Mashinski, Esquire [(“Attorney Mashinski”)] is hereby appointed

Guardian ad litem for the [Children].” See Order, No. A-9181, 11/16/21. The

trial court’s order did not specify whether the trial court was appointing

Attorney Mashinski, like prior counsel, to serve as the Children’s GAL and legal

counsel. The order did not contain an express determination that Children’s

best and legal interests did not conflict.

       The involuntary termination hearing commenced on March 2, 2022, and

continued on April 18, 2022, May 9, 2022, and March 1, 2023.3 On the first

day of the hearing, the Children had been living for over two years, along with

J.S., in a pre-adoptive kinship home with their maternal aunt and uncle. See

N.T., 5/9/22, at 6. By the conclusion of the proceeding in March of 2023,

A.C.P. was fifteen years old, and had been transferred to a different pre-

adoptive kinship placement. M.J.P., then eleven years old, remained in the

original placement.

       The Children testified separately in camera with respect to their

relationships with Father and Mother and the termination of parental rights.

See N.T., 3/2/22, at 7-51. A variety of other witnesses also testified during

____________________________________________

3 At no point during the hearings did the trial court make an express
determination that Attorney Mashinski could serve the dual role of Child’s GAL
and legal counsel without a conflict.

                                           -4-
J-A02040-24

the protracted involuntary termination hearing. CYS presented the following

witnesses in support of its petition to involuntarily terminate Father’s parental

rights: CYS caseworker Krista Dean (“Ms. Dean”); A.C.P.’s court-appointed

special advocate (“CASA”) Sarah Mule, A/K/A Sarah Harris (“Ms. Harris”);4

M.J.P.’s CASA, Amy Martin (“Ms. Martin”); and Father’s corrections counselor

at State Correctional Institution (“SCI”) – Dallas, Joseph DeLuca (“Mr.

DeLuca”). Father testified on his own behalf via Zoom from SCI–Dallas.

       One of the Children, A.C.P. testified that she was exposed in the family

home to “people cursing all the time,” to “sexual stuff,” “alcohol” use,

“fighting,” and “violence.” N.T., 3/2/22, at 9. She described Mother’s acts of

violence committed against her, including “one time she w[h]acked me over

the head with a broom. One time she kneed me in the [eyes]. . . . I think I

got little red dots in my eye. One time she sat on me to the point where I

couldn’t breathe.” Id. at 11-12.

       With respect to Father, A.C.P. testified that he “doesn’t seem to

understand that he put himself in jail. . . .” Id. at 12. She explained that he

has not said to her, “[‘]Oh, this is my fault where I am, what I’ve done has

affected you guys personally.[‘] He does not take accountability for that.” Id.

at 28. A.C.P. testified, “I cannot go back to live with my mom or my dad.

. . . I want to live with my aunt and uncle and my siblings as a family. . . . I

____________________________________________

4 This witness testified on May 9, 2022, and again on March 1, 2023.     On the
second date of her testimony, she was identified as Sarah Harris.

                                           -5-
J-A02040-24

want them to be my mom and dad. That’s what they are to me basically.”

Id. at 13. A.C.P. further emphasized, “this whole thing has been going on a

really long time, like six years; since I was a kid. I’m going into high school

next year and it started in elementary. That’s like a really long time. This

needs to be over soon. . . . I don’t understand why I’m still in foster care.”

Id. at 14-15.

      M.J.P. testified that she wants “to get adopted.” Id. at 36. She testified,

“I don’t want to live with my mom or dad.” Id. M.J.P. was four years old

when she was removed from Mother’s home. Id. at 37. She explained that

she has no memory of living in the same house with Father, and she does not

“know him well.” Id. at 38. In addition, M.J.P. testified that she does not

want continued phone contact with Father because “I don’t know him.” Id.

at 44-45.

      Ms. Dean, the CYS caseworker, testified that despite Father’s contact

with the Children during his incarceration, he has been unable to foster a

positive relationship with them.     See N.T., 4/18/22, at 90.        Ms. Dean

supervised video visits between the Children and Father in March and April of

2022, and she did not observe the existence of a parental bond. See N.T.,

5/9/22, at 11, 20; N.T., 4/18/22, at 114-115. She explained, “They don’t

want to sit there with the video. They feel like they have to.” N.T., 5/9/22,

at 20.   Ms. Dean also testified to an occasion where Father opened a

conversation with the Children by telling A.C.P. that she looked “fat.” See

                                      -6-
J-A02040-24

N.T., 4/18/22, at 108.5 In addition, Ms. Dean testified, “The Children need a

sense of permanency because they’ve been in placement for so long that they

don’t know what’s going on in their life . . ., and I think they would feel a little

more relieved if they had knowledge of what’s going to happen to them.” N.T.,

5/9/22, at 22. Ms. Dean testified that while Father had petitioned the trial

court for expansion of his contact with the Children, part of the reason Father’s

contact had not been expanded, subsequently, is because he did not want the

Children coming to the prison to visit him following the pandemic. See N.T.,

4/18/22, at 106. Ms. Dean testified that at no time during the life of these

cases has Father demonstrated an ability to parent the Children on his own,

nor was she aware of any plans he had to care for the Children upon his

release from prison; nor has she seen any progress in the relationship between

Father and the Children. See id. at 88-89.

       The Children’s respective CASA testified that they need permanency and

wish to be adopted by their kinship parents. See N.T., 5/9/22, at 29-30, 33-

34; 41-42, 46.      Specifically, Ms. Harris testified with respect to A.C.P., as

follows.

       Q. . . . [W]as it your impression that she wanted to be adopted
          because that would provide her with a certain amount of
          security going forward as to where she’s going to be residing?

       A. One of the reasons. Yes.
____________________________________________

5 Father later contested this; he testified, “I said to my [d]aughter . . . these

video conferences via video make people look fatter than what they are.”
N.T., 4/18/22, at 162.

                                           -7-
J-A02040-24

      Q. Okay. What other reasons are there?

      A. Safety; she feels like she can trust [the kinship parents].
         [A.C.P.] does not feel like she has a sense of security [because
         she] doesn’t know from one minute to the next whether she’s
         coming or going. She doesn’t know where she’s going to end
         up. As she’s looking towards her future, she wants to start
         making plans; and she feels like she can’t do that until she has
         something permanent.

Id. at 34.

      Ms. Dean testified that A.C.P. has not had contact with Father since she

was transferred to the new kinship home in July 2022, and A.C.P. desires

none. See N.T., 3/1/23, at 5, 11. Ms. Harris testified on the final day of the

proceeding that A.C.P. “does not wish to have a relationship with her father.”

Id. at 35. Ms. Harris explained:

      [A.C.P.] has been very adamant even before her placement with
      [her new kinship parents]. She does not wish to continue those
      relationships [with Mother and Father].

      She wants to take care of herself. She sees an ongoing need to
      take care of her mental health. I think as she gets older and
      becomes more aware, she is learning how to set her own
      boundaries and she’s becoming vocal about what those are and
      what’s best for her. . . ..

Id. at 33-34.   Further, Ms. Harris testified as follows:

      Q. . . . [H]ave you had conversations with [A.C.P.] about the
         possibility of resuming in-person contact [with Father] and
         whether or not that might start . . . healing that relationship?

      A. We have had conversations about that. [A.C.P.]’s answer is
         the same every time. She does not wish to continue that
         relationship.

                                    ****

                                      -8-
J-A02040-24

      Q. . . . [D]oes [A.C.P.] understand that her father will be released
         from incarceration in 11 months[’] time?

      A. I don’t know if she knows the specific timeline but she’s aware
         that he will be released.

      Q. In the relatively near future —

      A. Sure.

      Q. Although 11 months for a 15[-]year[-]old may seem longer?

      A. Right.

      Q. Has she indicated in any way any change on her outlook with
         a relationship with her father based upon that imminent
         release?

      A. She has not.

Id. at 37-39. Ms. Harris elaborated:

      Q. Do you, as her CASA worker, believe that it might be helpful
         for her to engage in any type of therapy to address relationship
         with her father?

      A. I believe as it stands now [A.C.P.]’s main concern should be
         [A.C.P.]. She’s got a lot of things that she’s trying to work
         through that she’s never had the opportunity to work through.

         And I think now that she’s taking that time it should be
         [A.C.P.]’s time. As she continues to grow and heal and
         understand more as she gets older and has that perspective
         then she can decide for herself.

Id. at 39.

      Unfortunately, prior to the conclusion of the protracted termination

proceeding, A.C.P. suffered a mental health crisis and was hospitalized. See

                                     -9-
J-A02040-24

id. at 8.6 As a result, in July 2022, she was transferred to a different pre-

adoptive kinship home, that of her maternal half-sister and her husband. See

id. at 5, 14. In January 2023, A.C.P.’s new kinship parents found her “cutting

herself,” and she was hospitalized again for two weeks. Id. at 8-9, 15. A.C.P.

receives psychiatric services. Her new kinship parents help facilitate those

services and meet her mental and emotional needs.               See id. at 9, 21-22.

Indeed, Ms. Dean testified that A.C.P. views her new kinship parents as

parental figures and wishes to be adopted by them. See id. at 9-10, 12.

       Ms. Martin, M.J.P.’s CASA, testified that M.J.P. seemed “well taken care

of” and all of her needs were being met by her kinship parents. See N.T.,

5/9/22, at 40. M.J.P. communicated to Ms. Martin that she wants to remain

with her kinship parents, and Ms. Martin recommends adoption because “that

[is her] home,” she feels “very much at home there,” and there is “definitely”

a bond with her kinship parents.               Id. at 42.   Ms. Martin, based on her

communications with M.J.P., testified that M.J.P. does not talk much with

Father because she does not know him well enough. See id. at 46.

       Ms. Dean testified that M.J.P.’s kinship parents, her maternal aunt and

uncle, wish to adopt her. See id. at 6. A.C.P.’s subsequent kinship parents,

____________________________________________

6 Ms. Dean testified that A.C.P. is diagnosed with “post-traumatic stress
disorder, oppositional defiant [disorder], depressive disorder with psychosis,
anxiety, . . . history of being abused. . . .” N.T., 3/1/23, at 14.

                                          - 10 -
J-A02040-24

her maternal half-sister and husband, wish to adopt her. See N.T., 3/1/23,

at 5-6.

       Father’s prison counselor Mr. DeLuca testified that Father, upon his

release from prison, is “looking to move in with his sister possibly. If not,

there is a Veterans service placement that we can get for him.” N.T., 4/18/22,

at 48. Father testified to his confidence that he could seek employment with

his sister who “owns restaurants,” but expressed uncertainty about whether

he would be able to care for the Children following his release. See N.T.,

4/18/22, at 165-66.7

       By decree dated August 14, 2023, and docketed on August 18, 2023,

the trial court terminated Father’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2511(a)(2) and (b).8 Father timely appealed, and both he and the trial court

complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.9

       Father raises the following issues for our review:

____________________________________________

7 Father testified that he was denied parole three times, and a final parole
hearing was scheduled for October of 2022. See N.T., 4/18/22, at 164-165.
Father was denied parole again at that time.

8 Pennsylvania’s Adoption Act (“the Adoption Act”) governs involuntary
termination of parental rights proceedings. See 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101-2938.
Subsection 2511(a) provides grounds for the involuntary termination of
parental rights.   If the trial court finds clear and convincing evidence
supporting the existence of one of the grounds for termination set forth in
subsection (a), the court must then consider whether termination would best
serve the child under subsection (b). See id. § 2511(b).

9 This Court sua sponte consolidated Father’s appeals.      See Order, 10/2/23.

                                          - 11 -
J-A02040-24

      1. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt abused its discretion and/or
         committed an error of law in determining the parental rights of
         [Father] to the subject minor children, M.J.P. and A.C.P.,
         should be terminated pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).

      2. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt abused its discretion and/or
         committed an error of law in determining the tenets of 23
         Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b) have been satisfied and the best interests
         of the subject minor children, M.J.P. and A.C.P., served by
         terminating the parental rights of [Father].

Father’s Brief at 4.

      Prior to reaching the merits of Father’s appeal, we must first address

sua sponte the representation provided by the Children’s GAL. See Interest

of A.J.R.O., 270 A.3d 563, 570 (Pa. Super. 2022).         Section 2313 of the

Adoption Act provides, in relevant part:

      (a) Child.—The court shall appoint counsel to represent the child
      in an involuntary termination proceeding when the proceeding is
      being contested by one or both of the parents. The court may
      appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem to represent any child who
      has not reached the age of 18 years and is subject to any other
      proceeding under this part whenever it is in the best interests of
      the child. No attorney or law firm shall represent both the child
      and the adopting parent or parents.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2313(a). This Court has articulated the relevant law as follows:

            Our Supreme Court has explained that “[s]ection 2313(a)
      requires the appointment of counsel who serves the child’s legal
      interests in contested, involuntary [termination of parental rights]
      proceedings.” In re Adoption of L.B.M., [] 161 A.3d 172, 180
      ([Pa.] 2017) (footnote omitted). Further, the L.B.M. Court held
      that “the failure to appoint counsel for a child involved in a
      contested, involuntary termination of parental rights
      proceeding is a structural error and is not subject to
      harmless error analysis.” Id. at 183. Further, the failure to
      appoint counsel to represent a child’s legal interests
      pursuant to [s]ection 2313(a) is a non-waivable error.
      [See In re] T.S., 192 A.3d [1080,] 1087 [(Pa. 2018)].

                                     - 12 -
J-A02040-24

      Subsequently, [our] Supreme Court clarified that “trial courts are
      obligated by [s]ection 2313(a) to appoint counsel to serve the
      critical role of a child’s attorney, zealously advocating for the legal
      interests of the child who otherwise would be denied a voice in the
      termination of parental rights proceedings.” In re Adoption of
      K.M.G., [] 240 A.3d 1218, 1233-34 ([Pa.] 2020) (citation
      omitted). In the context of TPR proceedings, the child’s “legal
      interests” is synonymous with “the child’s preferred outcome[.]”
      T.S., 192 A.3d at 1082 (footnote omitted)[.]

             Further, “where a child’s legal and best interests do not
      diverge in a termination proceeding, an attorney-GAL
      representing the child's best interests can also fulfill the role of
      the attorney appointed per Section 2313(a) to represent the
      child's legal interests.” T.S., 192 A.3d at 1088 (citation omitted).
      However, “where there is no conflict between a child’s legal and
      best interests, an attorney-guardian ad litem representing the
      child’s best interests can also represent the child's legal interests.
      Id. at 1092; see also K.M.G., 240 A.3d at 1235-36. As such,
      our Supreme Court has held that before appointing an individual
      to serve as both guardian ad litem (GAL) and legal counsel for a
      child, the trial court “must determine whether counsel can
      represent the dual interests . . ..” K.M.G., 240 A.3d at 1236.
      Further, where the trial court appoints one attorney “to represent
      both the child’s best interests and legal interests, appellate courts
      should review sua sponte whether the [trial] court made a
      determination that those interests did not conflict.” Id. at 1235.

Interest of H.H.N., 296 A.3d 1258, 1263–64 (Pa. Super. 2023) (some

citations omitted; emphases added).

      Thus, where the trial court has appointed a single attorney to serve as

GAL and legal counsel to represent both the child’s best interests and legal

interests, our Supreme Court has concluded an appellate court should review

sua sponte whether the lower court made a determination that those interests

did not conflict. See A.J.R.O., 270 A.3d at 570 (citing In re P.G.F., 247 A.3d

                                      - 13 -
J-A02040-24

955, 964–65 (Pa. 2021)). Appellate review of this question does not involve

second–guessing whether GAL/legal counsel in fact had a conflict, but solely

whether the trial court made the determination in the first instance.

See id.

      If there is no indication in the certified record that the trial court has

performed its section 2313(a) duty to determine whether the Children’s best

and legal interests did not conflict and that counsel could accordingly

represent the dual interests without conflict, this Court cannot fulfill its duty

to verify sua sponte that the trial court concluded the attorney could serve in

the dual role without conflict. See id. at 570-71 (citing K.M.G., 240 A.3d at

1236). In such a scenario, this Court has explained that the proper remedy

is to vacate the termination decree and remand for further proceedings, after

which the trial court is to fulfill its section 2313(a) duty to determine whether

the attorney can represent the dual interests of the Children without conflict.

See A.J.R.O., 270 A.3d at 571. On remand, if the trial court determines that

no conflict exists, the court is to re-enter its termination decrees. See id. If

the court determines there is a conflict between the Children’s legal and best

interests, the court is to appoint separate legal counsel and conduct a new

termination hearing to provide counsel an opportunity to advocate on behalf

of the Children’s legal interests. See id.

      Following our review, we are constrained to vacate and remand.          As

noted above, the trial court appointed Attorney Johns to serve as GAL and

                                     - 14 -
J-A02040-24

legal counsel for the Children, and did so without making the findings required

by K.M.G. However, the court then vacated the appointment and appointed

Attorney Mashinski as GAL for the Children.        The record does not show

whether the trial court intended to appoint Attorney Mashinski to serve as

legal counsel for the Children, as it had done with Attorney Johns. Further,

the record does not demonstrate that, if the trial court intended to appoint

Attorney Mashinski to serve as GAL as well as legal counsel, the court

determined Attorney Mashinski could represent the Children’s dual interests

without conflict.     This is structural error not subject to a harmless error

analysis. See H.H.N., 296 A.3d at 1266.

       Accordingly, pursuant to A.J.R.O., we must vacate the termination

decree and remand for the limited purpose of the trial court fulfilling its

section 2313(a) duty to clarify whether Attorney Mashinski was appointed as

GAL and legal counsel, and, if so, whether he could represent the Children’s

dual interests without conflict. See 270 A.3d at 570-71.10 If the trial court

____________________________________________

10 We observe that, as shown supra, the Children’s testimony unequivocally

demonstrates they sought termination of Father’s parental rights and
adoption, and the GAL’s recommendation aligns with this. See N.T., 3/2/22,
at 13-14, 36-37, 39-42; GAL Recommendation, 5/24/23, unnumbered at 8 (“I
feel strongly that it is in the minor children’s best interest to terminate
parental rights . . .. I do recommend terminating the parental rights of . . .
[Father], thus allowing the [C]hildren to be adopted and giving them the
permanency they deserve. I do not feel that they will endure any detrimental
effects [from] this termination . . ..”). Nevertheless, this Court’s sua sponte
review is limited to whether: (1) the court appointed Children counsel; and
(2) the trial court made the appropriate determination regarding the Children’s
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

                                          - 15 -
J-A02040-24

clarifies Attorney Mashinski was appointed to represent the Children’s dual

interests, it shall determine on the record whether there is a conflict between

the Children’s legal and best interests. If there is a conflict, the trial court

shall appoint separate legal counsel and conduct a new termination hearing.

If the trial court determines there is no conflict, the court shall re-enter its

termination decrees after appointment of the current GAL as counsel of record.

       Decrees vacated. Case remanded for proceedings consistent with this

memorandum. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/27/2024

____________________________________________

best and legal interests in the first instance. See A.J.R.O., 270 A.3d at 570
(citing P.G.F., 247 A.3d at 965)). See also H.H.N., 296 A.3d at 1263-64
(stating that a trial court’s failure to comply with section 2313(a) is not subject
to a harmless error analysis).

                                          - 16 -