Court Opinion

ID: 9757670
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 22:53:10.973059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:42.490448
License: Public Domain

*849WINFREE, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully disagree with the court's conclusion that Philip's due process rights were not violated by the unannounced change of his probable cause hearing to an adjudication hearing.1 It is true the Office of Children's Services (OCS) gave advance notice of its intent to seek adjudication findings rather than probable cause findings at the close of the hearing. But because the trial court, not OCS, ultimately determines whether to turn a probable cause hearing into an adjudication hearing, due process requires that the trial court advise a parent of its determination at a meaningful time rather than in a post-hearing adjudication decision.2
Although shortly before the hearing and in its pre-hearing memorandum OCS advised that it would seek adjudicatory findings, the record seems clear that the August 25 hearing was intended to be a probable cause and temporary custody hearing. The July notice for the August 25 hearing described it as a "contested [] probable cause hearing"; an order issued the same day set a separate adjudication hearing for September 28. OCS's August 11 motion requested leave to have witnesses testify telephonically "at the contested probable cause hearing" set for August 25. Philip agreed to some but objected to other telephonic testimony "at the hearing on probable cause" set for August 25. The order allowing telephonic testimony referred to "the probable cause hearing." Philip's subsequent pre-hearing memorandum was based entirely on the hearing being held for the determination of probable cause.
During the August 25 hearing the trial court allowed certain telephonic testimony over Philip's objection because "[this is just a probable cause hearing.3 Later in the hearing the trial court mentioned that OCS was seeking adjudication findings and stated that it "[didn't] want to argue about that now." At the close of the hearing the trial court inquired whether Philip might stipulate to probable cause, allowing the case to be moved to the adjudication stage. Although Philip agreed he may have conceded a probable cause finding under AS 47.10.0118) (mental injury), no stipulation was made after another reference to OCS seeking adjudication findings. The hearing was then continued to late October, with the trial court noting that if agreement were reached by the parties it would "find probable cause and then ... would set [a hearing] for adjudication." At a late-September status conference on the date originally set for an adjudication hearing, the trial court again referred to the matter as a probable cause hearing. Shortly before the October hearing, the trial court issued an order denying Philip's motion to admit his deposition testimony in lieu of telephonic testimony at the "continued probable cause hearing."
When the hearing resumed on October 28, the trial court referred to it as "a continua*850tion of the probable cause hearing." After further proceedings on October 29, the hearing was continued to December 3. On December 2 the trial court issued an order referencing "the October 29, 2010, probable cause hearing." Towards the December 3 hearing's conclusion, the trial court asked if there would be additional "evidence for probable cause, adjudication, whatever we're calling this?" Philip stated that he would not be presenting any evidence "for purposes of probable cause." The trial court did not respond with any indication it was considering making adjudication findings instead of probable cause findings. The trial court concluded the hearing by stating it would not "make any findings as to preponderance or probable cause at this point." On February 5, 2011, the trial court issued an adjudication order under CINA Rule 15.
OCS argues that although "[the trial court might have been clearer about its intentions," Philip knew the trial court "might issue an adjudication decision." But Philip knew only that OCS had requested the hearing be treated as an adjudication hearing. Philip was not given any indication by the trial court that it would honor that request. In my view it is a violation of due process when: (1) the trial court calls a proceeding a probable cause hearing throughout the presentation of OCS's case; (2) at the completion of OCS's case the trial court does not expressly advise the parent that it is considering making adjudication findings rather than probable cause findings; (8) the parent advises the trial court that he does not intend to present evidence on the issue of probable cause and the trial court makes no indication that it is considering making adjudication findings; and (4) the parent's first indication that the trial court actually considered the hearing an adjudication hearing comes in the adjudication decision.
Although it is OCS's job to prosecute its case, the trial court, not OCS, ultimately determines the nature of the findings the court will make arising out of the hearings before it. A parent should not be required to guess whether the trial court will honor an OCS request for adjudication findings at a probable cause hearing. "The fundamental requisite of due process of law is the opportunity to be heard." 4 This right is of "little reality or worth unless one is informed that the matter is pending and can choose for himself whether to appear or default, ac-quiesee or contest."5 Putative notice given by the other party is not sufficient to satisfy due process concerns when the trial court informs a party that arguments are being heard and evidence taken on one issue, but makes a decision on another issue.
Implicit in the court's opinion is the idea that the trial court was not in a position to know whether it would enter adjudication findings until it had heard whether OCS's evidence would satisfy the higher burden of proof required for adjudication findings. This fails to acknowledge the trial court's duty to give Philip notice at the close of OCS's evidence that the court was considering such findings; due process required putting Philip on notice that he needed to present evidence to contest adjudication rather than probable cause.6
I would reverse the trial court's adjudication decision and remand for entry of an appropriate probable cause decision.

. A parent's interests in a probable cause hearing and an adjudication hearing are substantially different due to the evidentiary burden and possible consequences of each.
A "probable cause hearing" is a preliminary non-adjudicatory hearing governed by CINA Rule 10, entitled "Temporary Custody Hearing." At the conclusion of such a hearing, the trial court must order a child returned to the home and dismiss the underlying petition if the court "'does not find probable cause to believe that the child is a child in need of aid under AS 47.10.011." CINA Rule 10(c). If the trial court does find probable cause, it must hold an adjudication hearing within 120 days, unless continued for good cause. AS 47.10.080(a).
An adjudication hearing is governed by CINA Rule 15, entitled "Adjudication Hearing." Such a hearing "is a trial to the court on the merits of the petition for adjudication" and OCS "has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the child is a child in need of aid." CINA Rule 15(a) and (c) If OCS meets this burden, the trial court can commit the child to OCS's care for up to two years. AS 47.10.080(c)(1).

. The court characterizes Philip's due process argument as being that he did not know OCS was asking for adjudication findings. But Philip concedes he knew OCS requested adjudication findings-his due process argument is that the trial court (1) conducted the hearing as a probable cause hearing, and (2) never gave Philip notice that it was considering honoring OCS's request to make adjudication findings rather than probable cause findings, even at the conclusion of OCS's case when Philip stated that he did not intend to present evidence as to probable cause.

. See CINA Rule 10(b)(3) (allowing otherwise inadmissible hearsay evidence in a probable cause hearing if it is "probative of a material fact, has circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, and the appearing parties are given a fair opportunity to meet it").

. Mullane v. Cent. Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314, 70 S.Ct. 652, 94 L.Ed. 865 (1950) (quoting Grannis v. Ordean, 234 U.S. 385, 394, 34 S.Ct. 779, 58 L.Ed. 1363 (1914).

. Id.

. The court further supports its decision by finding Philip failed to show that he was prejudiced by the trial court's lack of notice. However, the prejudice analysis "is not the same as determining whether any constitutional error was harmless, but more fundamentally considers whether lack of notice might deprive a parent of sufficient opportunity to prepare her case." D.M. v. State, Div. of Family & Youth Servs., 995 P.2d 205, 213 (Alaska 2000) (emphasis added) (citations omitted). While due process is contextually based and flexible, "it is at bottom an interest analysis, not an outcome analysis. It focuses not on whether a procedural error produced an unfair outcome but rather on whether the error produced an unjustifiable risk of erroneously denying a protected interest in the specific procedural setting at hand." D.M., 995 P.2d at 219 (Bryner, J., dissenting) (citing Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 334-35, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 LEd.2d 18 (1976)) (emphasis in original)..