Court Opinion

ID: 9911526
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-20 14:02:04.075622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:45.840577
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/19/23 In re S.R. CA5

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

             IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

    In re S.R. et al., Persons Coming Under the
    Juvenile Court Law.

    KERN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN                                                          F085566
    SERVICES,
                                                                             (Super. Ct. Nos. JD132783-00,
             Plaintiff and Respondent,                                        JD132784-00, JD132785-00)

                    v.
                                                                                          OPINION
    A.G.,

             Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
            APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. Susan M. Gill,
Judge.
            Richard L. Knight, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
            No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*           Before Hill, P. J., Levy, J. and Meehan, J.
       Appellant A.G. (mother) is the mother of now 18-year-old S.R., 12-year-old N.G.,
and 11-year-old Juan G. (collectively “the children”), who are the subjects of this
dependency case. In September 2022, mother filed a petition under Welfare and
Institutions Code section 3881 asking the juvenile court to terminate a legal guardianship
for the children that was established through dependency proceedings. The juvenile court
denied mother’s section 388 petition on January 3, 2023.
       Mother appealed from the juvenile court’s orders denying her modification
petition. After reviewing the juvenile court record, mother’s court-appointed counsel
informed this court he could find no arguable issues to raise on mother’s behalf. This
court granted mother leave to personally file a letter setting forth a good cause showing
that an arguable issue of reversible error exists. (In re Phoenix H. (2009) 47 Cal.4th 835,
844 (Phoenix H.).) Mother filed a letter setting forth various arguments that her rights
were violated by alleged errors by the juvenile court.2
       We conclude mother failed to set forth a good cause showing that any arguable
issue of reversible error arose from the section 388 petition hearing. (Phoenix H., supra,
47 Cal.4th at p. 844.) Consequently, we dismiss the appeal.
                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       In December 2014, the juvenile court adjudged then nine-year-old S.R.,
three-year-old N.G., and two-year-old Juan dependent children and removed them from
parental custody after sustaining allegations that the children were at substantial risk of

1      All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2       This case pertains to mother’s appeal only. N.G. and Juan G.’s father, J.G.
(father), filed a separate appeal in case No. F085772 as to N.G. and Juan G. only.
Father’s court-appointed counsel also informed this court he could find no arguable
issues to raise on father’s behalf. This court granted father leave to personally file a letter
setting forth a good cause showing that an arguable issue of reversible error existed.
(Phoenix H., supra, 47 Cal.4th 835.) Father did not respond, and his appeal was
consequently dismissed.

                                              2.
suffering serious physical harm as a result of unsafe living conditions and mother’s
substance abuse. The juvenile court ordered mother to participate in family reunification
services. Mother’s reunification plan required her to participate in counseling for
substance abuse and parenting, and mother was to submit to random drug testing. The
children and mother were also to participate in weekly supervised visitation.
       During the reunification period, mother failed to enroll in substance abuse
counseling, but she completed nine parenting classes and nine substance abuse classes
while incarcerated for approximately one month. Mother submitted to random drug
testing periodically, however, she missed multiple tests, resulting in presumptive positive
results. The children were placed with their maternal grandmother and two older
dependent siblings, and they were considered stable in the placement.
       At the six-month review hearing, held on July 21, 2015, the juvenile court found
mother made no progress in alleviating the causes for the children’s out-of-home
placement, and it terminated mother’s family reunification services. A section 366.26
hearing was set for Juan and N.G. on November 17, 2015. A 12-month review hearing
was scheduled for S.R. because family reunification services were continued for his
father, Jorge R.3 On August 13, 2015, family reunification services were terminated for
Jorge R., and the juvenile court set a section 366.26 hearing for December 11, 2015, as to
S.R.
       The section 366.26 report prepared by the Kern County Department of Social
Services (department) recommended that the maternal grandmother be appointed as the
legal guardian for the children. She was unwilling to commit to a plan of adoption
because she hoped the children’s parents would be able to address their issues and regain
custody in the future.

3      Jorge R. is the father of S.R. and mother’s two eldest children not at issue in this
appeal.

                                             3.
       At the section 366.26 hearing held on January 20, 2016, mother was not present
and her counsel made no objection to the recommendation for legal guardianship. The
juvenile court found that there was clear and convincing evidence that the children were
residing with a relative who was unwilling to adopt the children due to exceptional
circumstances. A permanent plan of legal guardianship was ordered for the children, and
the maternal grandmother (the guardian) was appointed as the children’s legal guardian.
Visitation between mother and the children was ordered to occur weekly for two hours
with supervision as the legal guardian deemed necessary. The guardian was also
provided the discretion to increase the parents’ visitation if deemed appropriate. The
juvenile court retained jurisdiction over the children pursuant to section 366.4.
       On January 2, 2018, mother filed a section 388 petition requesting that the juvenile
court order her visitation to occur weekly for four hours on Saturday afternoons. The
petition also requested an order requiring the guardian to keep mother informed of
medical, educational, and other important life events. The juvenile court granted
mother’s request after finding good cause to expand her visitation.
       Mother filed a second section 388 petition on August 13, 2021, which requested
that the legal guardianship be terminated and the children be returned to her custody. The
petition alleged that the guardian was using “severe corporal punishment” and refusing to
advise mother of medical and educational events. Mother claimed the children were
suffering “serious emotional damage” that was “evidenced by severe anxiety, depression,
withdrawal, or untoward aggressive behavior” due to the guardian’s conduct. In an
attachment to the petition, mother alleged that the guardian had failed to provide the
children with mental health services and S.G. wanted to live with mother. She further
alleged that the children reported excessive discipline from the guardian, which resulted
in marks and bruises being inflicted on the children.
       On September 9, 2021, mother filed a third section 388 petition. The petition
included additional information regarding mother’s allegations that the guardian utilized

                                             4.
excessive discipline on the children. Mother indicated that she observed injuries to the
children in February 2021 and May 2021. She also claimed that the guardian “ha[d] in
the past displayed symptoms of suffering from … mental health issues.” Mother
concluded her request by asking that the juvenile court order the guardian to complete a
mental health evaluation, parenting program, anger management course, and batterer’s
prevention program.
       The juvenile court found that mother made a prima facie showing on her petition
to terminate the guardianship, and an evidentiary hearing was set for December 14, 2021.
The evidentiary hearing was continued multiple times for additional investigation at the
request of mother and the guardian, and separate minor’s counsel were appointed for the
children in April 2022.
       The department filed multiple reports in response to mother’s section 388 petition,
which recommended that the children remain with the guardian. On December 3, 2021, a
social worker completed a visit to the guardian’s home. The guardian reported that there
were arguments with mother about the time, place, and manner of visits, and the
children’s school was willing to give a statement about the children’s behaviors after
visits. N.G. was in fourth grade, and she stated that she wanted to live with mother. Juan
was in third grade, and he indicated that he wanted to stay in the home with the guardian.
Both Juan and N.G. explained that their mother “hates” the guardian, and this made them
feel sad.
       The social worker visited mother’s home on December 6, 2021. Mother informed
the social worker that she completed a three-month residential substance abuse program
in February 2018 and a parenting program in May 2016. Mother claimed she did not
have an issue with substance abuse when the children were removed, and she stated they
were removed due to “housing issues” while living with a relative. Mother’s adult
daughter, who previously lived with the guardian, was the individual that first reported

                                            5.
abuse and spanking by the guardian to mother. There was a three-year-old sibling of the
children’s that lived with mother.
       On December 8, 2021, S.G. was interviewed by the social worker at his school.
He explained that the information in mother’s section 388 petition took place over a
period of seven to eight years. S.G. stated that the information was mostly true, but it
was also exaggerated. He was in his junior year of high school, and he was not certain
how living with his mother would be. S.G. did not know how mother would be able to
handle all of the children because she was already aggressive with only one child in her
care. He felt that mother would give him more freedom, and there would be less stress
on the guardian if they returned to mother. S.G. disclosed that the guardian used to “hit
the kids with her hand or the belt,” but he denied that the guardian ever hit him.
       Juan was also interviewed at his school on the same date. He indicated that he
wanted to stay with the guardian. Juan also stated that he used to receive “spankings with
the belt,” but he reported that they were no longer disciplined physically. He was unable
to remember an exact date, but he stated that the physical discipline stopped “a long time
ago.” The social worker then spoke to N.G., who explained that the guardian disciplined
the children by taking away television. She denied ever receiving a spanking by a belt.
N.G. stated she would miss her family if she went to live with mother because her aunts
and uncles did not like mother.
       The social worker received a text message from S.G. on February 26, 2022. S.G.
stated that he did not want to live with mother or the guardian. He did not trust mother
because she manipulated him in the past to hate the guardian. S.G. did not want to live
with the guardian because he felt there would be tension between he and his siblings
about who they wanted to live with. On February 28, 2022, the social worker confirmed
with S.G. during an in-person interview that he did not want to live with mother or the
guardian. S.G. also indicated that his younger siblings wanted to live with mother.

                                             6.
       On April 5, 2022, mother’s adult daughter told the social worker that mother had a
gun in her home, and mother reportedly offered it to the adult daughter in case things got
“out of hand” at a party in her home. The guardian reported that she no longer felt safe
due to mother’s harassment and possession of a gun. Mother began missing some of her
scheduled visits from April 2022 to July 2022. In May 2022, N.G. reiterated that she
wanted to live with mother, and Juan and S.G. confirmed that they wanted to remain with
the guardian.
       An evidentiary hearing on mother’s section 388 petition began on August 1, 2022.
Mother was not present, and her appointed counsel proceeded with the hearing on her
behalf. Counsel for the parties stipulated to the juvenile court examining the children
outside the presence of the parents, the guardian, and their counsel. The visitation orders
for the guardianship would remain in place while the hearing was continued for the
parties to review the testimony.
       S.G. testified in chambers with the department’s counsel and his appointed
counsel present. He testified that the guardian told him that mother was “not ready [to
have] … her kids back yet, but she wants her to have her kids … back but she’s not
ready .…” The guardian told this to S.G. in private, and she did not make the statement
around the other children. Mother told S.G. during visits that the guardian was “lying,
deceiving, and basically wants to keep [the children] away from her.” S.G. testified that
he was not visiting with mother at the present time because “it just brings more drama
into [his] life .…”
       Juan testified that he had never heard the guardian speak negatively about mother.
However, Juan explained that his mother stated negative things about the guardian.
Mother told the children than the guardian was lying, but he felt that his mother was the
person who was lying. Juan testified that he wanted to live with the guardian. He did not
want to see mother anymore because she would always hit his brother and sister. Juan

                                             7.
also claimed that he witnessed mother hit his three-year old sibling on his buttocks and
back. Juan was worried that mother might hit him if he went to live with her.
        N.G. testified that the guardian did not like that mother still spent time with father.
Mother would often tell N.G. that statements made by the guardian were not true. N.G.
wanted to spend more time with mother, but she also wanted to spend time with the
guardian. N.G. testified that she would feel sad if Juan lived somewhere else, and she felt
safe in the guardian’s home. She was not afraid of being hit by mother, but she had
witnessed mother hit her three-year-old sibling on the arm and face to get his attention.
The juvenile court ordered the preparation of a transcript to allow the parties and their
counsel to review the children’s testimony at the next hearing. After hearing testimony
from the children, the juvenile court set a continued section 388 hearing for September 6,
2022.
        On August 5, 2022, mother’s counsel filed a request for an ex parte hearing due to
mother’s request for appointment of new counsel. Mother’s counsel indicated that there
was an “irremediable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.” An ex parte hearing
was held on August 9, 2022, and mother was not present. Mother’s counsel was relieved,
and a new attorney was appointed to represent mother.
        Mother filed a fourth section 388 petition on September 2, 2022. The petition
requested that the juvenile court “[r]escind” the guardianship and place the children in
mother’s care. In an attachment to the petition, mother provided certificates of
completion for a substance abuse program from February 2018 and parenting program
from May 2016. Mother also provided a declaration alleging that Juan and N.G.
informed her about an incident of physical abuse by the guardian. Mother claimed that
the guardian pinned Juan to the ground during an argument, and mother observed
bruising to the upper portion of Juan’s cheek, neck, and right side of his face. She also
observed a laceration on Juan’s lip. On September 2, 2022, the juvenile court found that
mother’s petition was “superfluous” because a hearing was already set on mother’s prior

                                               8.
petitions. Mother’s counsel was to provide notice to all counsel if new evidence was to
be presented.
       Mother’s counsel made an ex parte request on September 26, 2022, that the
children be made available for testimony at an upcoming hearing on the section 388
petitions. Her counsel wished to question the children about claims of physical abuse and
being withdrawn from school, activities, and counseling. On September 27, 2022, the
juvenile court denied the request because it was “not persuaded” that change of counsel
required the children to testify again. On December 14, 2022, mother’s counsel filed an
ex parte request for a hearing to change the time of visitation after mother and the
guardian were unable to resolve a conflict as to mother’s work schedule. The juvenile
court held a hearing on December 22, 2022, and mother’s request was denied.
       After multiple continuances, the juvenile court held the continued evidentiary
hearing on mother’s section 388 petitions. Mother and the guardian were both present
and represented by their appointed counsel. The juvenile court had read and considered
the reports prepared by the department.
       Mother provided testimony in support of her request, and the juvenile court
admitted photographs of alleged injuries to the children that were taken by mother.
Mother’s counsel also introduced progress reports and certificates of completion for
mother’s parenting and substance abuse programs from 2016 and 2018. Mother testified
that she believed the children should be returned to her custody because she was able to
provide a safe and nurturing environment for them.
       The guardian testified that mother never asked her about the children’s medical
appointments or school events. She also indicated that mother attended only half of her
visits with the children. The guardian was no longer willing to supervise mother’s visits
at a park because confrontations would occur after mother interfered with the guardian’s
attempts to give instruction to the children. Finally, the social worker testified that she
asked the children if they were hit “all the time” by the guardian. The social worker was

                                              9.
aware of mother’s allegation that the children were hit with a belt and back scratcher, but
she did not ask the children if they were hit by those objects.
       Mother’s counsel argued that a change in circumstances existed since the
guardianship was ordered in January 2016. Her counsel argued that mother was
successfully caring for her now four-year-old son, and he also asserted that there was
evidence of physical abuse by the guardian. His argument concluded by requesting that
the petition be granted to terminate the guardianship and return the children to mother’s
care. Counsel for the children and the department argued that mother’s request for
custody should be denied.
       After hearing argument from all counsel, the juvenile court proceeded to its ruling
on the section 388 petitions. The juvenile court ruled as follows:

              “I do find there’s been a change of circumstances since the
       guardianship was ordered. I also find it would not be in the children’s best
       interests to be placed with … mother at this time so I’m going to deny the
       modification request. However, I do have continuing jurisdiction over this
       guardianship, and in that regard, I’m going to order that all three of the
       children need to be in mental health services at least monthly. They have
       been in the middle of a tug of war between [the guardian] and mother.”

       The juvenile court also ordered that mother’s visitation occur on a different day to
allow mother’s work schedule to be accommodated. The guardian was ordered to notify
mother of school events, performances, and awards. Mother was allowed to attend the
events without contacting the children or interfering with the event. The guardian was
also ordered to notify mother of any nonroutine medical appointments, and she was not to
use any physical punishment on the children. Mother’s modification request pursuant to
section 388 was denied, and she was not permitted to file an additional section 388
petition absent a specific and compelling change of circumstances for 12 months.

                                             10.
                                      DISCUSSION
       An appealed-from judgment or order is presumed correct. (Denham v. Superior
Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564.) It is the appellant’s burden to raise claims of reversible
error or other defect and present argument and authority on each point made. If the
appellant fails to do so, the appeal may be dismissed. (In re Sade C. (1996) 13 Cal.4th
952, 994.)
       Here, the juvenile court conducted a hearing under section 388. Section 388
allows a parent to petition the court to change a prior order on the grounds that there is
new evidence or circumstances have changed such that the proposed new order would
better serve the child’s interests. The parent bears the burden of proof by a
preponderance of the evidence. (§ 388; In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 295, 317.)
       In assessing the petition, the juvenile court may consider the entire history of the
case. (In re Justice P. (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 181, 189.) When determining whether a
modification under section 388 would be in the best interests of the child, courts have
considered several factors, including but not limited to: “(1) the seriousness of the
problem which led to the dependency, and the reason for any continuation of that
problem; (2) the strength of relative bonds between the dependent children to both parent
and caretakers; and (3) the degree to which the problem may be easily removed or
ameliorated, and the degree to which it actually has been.” (In re Kimberly F. (1997) 56
Cal.App.4th 519, 532.)
       We review the denial of a section 388 petition after an evidentiary hearing for
abuse of discretion. (In re Stephanie M., supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 318.) “ ‘ “The appropriate
test for abuse of discretion is whether the trial court exceeded the bounds of reason.” ’ ”
(Id. at pp. 318–319.) “ ‘The denial of a section 388 motion rarely merits reversal as an
abuse of discretion.’ ” (In re Daniel C. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1438, 1445.) Where
there is conflicting evidence, we reverse only if the evidence compels a finding for the
appellant as a matter of law. (In re I.W. (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 1517, 1527–1529.)

                                             11.
       Having reviewed mother’s supplemental brief, we find mother has not made a
showing of good cause that an arguable issue exists. (Phoenix H., supra, 47 Cal.4th at
p. 846.) Mother makes several claims of error as follows: 1) the juvenile court lacked
jurisdiction to hear the case after the guardianship was established; 2) there was an
improper delegation of judicial authority to the guardian for evidentiary determinations;
3) no conflict existed to require separate appointment of counsel for the children;
4) mother was deprived of the ability to defend herself from allegations in the social
worker’s reports; 5) information outside of the record was relied upon by the court;
6) appointment of counsel for the guardian was improper; 7) denial of mother’s request
for further testimony by children was in error; 8) the court’s failure to find that
termination of guardianship was in the children’s best interest was in error; and 9) the
order preventing mother from filing additional section 388 petitions absent a specific and
compelling change of circumstances violated her right to petition the court.
       Mother’s letter brief furnishes no valid argument with supporting legal authorities
for these purported claims of error. (See In re Sade C., supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 994
[parents must “ ‘present argument and authority on each point made’ ”].) Nor does
mother show that these claims of error, assuming they were true, constitute a basis for
reversing the underlying orders. Our review of the challenged orders confirms counsel’s
determination that no arguable issues exist.
       Mother’s various claims of error lack supporting legal authority and do not
constitute arguable issues on appeal. First, the juvenile court had continuing jurisdiction
over the children after the guardianship was established. Section 366.4, subdivision (a)
provides that “[a]ny minor for whom a guardianship has been established resulting from
the selection of implementation of a permanency plan pursuant to [s]ection 366.26 … is
within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.”
       Next, the juvenile court did not provide the guardian with the ability to make
evidentiary determinations. Both mother and the guardian were represented by counsel

                                               12.
and capable of objecting to the statements contained within the social worker’s reports.
Mother and the guardian both provided testimony to the juvenile court, and the juvenile
court considered the exhibits and testimony provided by mother in reaching its decision.
Mother’s counsel agreed to allow the juvenile court to obtain testimony from the children
in chambers, and there was no sufficient showing that mother’s new allegations required
additional testimony from the children. The social worker’s reports also included
references to mother’s request to hold visits at a restaurant instead of a park, and the
juvenile court properly obtained that information from the record.
       Furthermore, appointment of counsel for the guardian and separate counsel for the
children was permitted by section 317 and Supreme Court precedent. (See In re
Celine R. (2003) 31 Cal.4th 45, 56, citing Carroll v. Superior Court (2002) 101
Cal.App.4th 1423, 1428 [“If an appointed attorney is representing multiple minors in a
dependency proceeding, and an actual conflict of interest between the minors arises, the
attorney is obliged to withdraw from representing the clients [citation] and the court is
required to relieve the attorney and appoint new counsel.”]; see also section 317,
subdivision (b) [“When it appears to the court that a parent or guardian of the child is
presently financially unable to afford and cannot for that reason employ counsel, and the
child has been placed in out-of-home care, or the petitioning [department] is
recommending that the child be placed in out-of-home care, the court shall appoint
counsel for the parent or guardian, unless the court finds that the parent or guardian has
made a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel as provided in this section.”].)
       In the present case, the juvenile court determined that mother did not prove that
the children’s best interests were served by granting her request. Mother provided
evidence that she completed parenting and substance abuse programs several years
earlier. These facts were understood and acknowledged by the court. However, it is
irrelevant that there may be evidence which would support a conclusion contrary to that
of the juvenile court. (In re K.B. (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1275, 1292.) The court denied

                                             13.
mother’s section 388 petition because it did not find that termination of the guardianship
was in the children’s best interests. Mother had yet to proceed beyond supervised
visitation with the children, and the guardian had been the most consistent source of
stability in the children’s lives. Thus, it cannot be said that the juvenile court’s denial of
the request to terminate the guardianship was in error.
       Finally, mother was not prevented from filing a section 388 petition, the juvenile
court merely ordered that any such filings must present a “specific and compelling
change of circumstances.” This requirement was reasonable and proper guidance for
mother given her filing of several unnecessary petitions over the last few years.
       In sum, mother has not raised any arguable issues stemming from the section 388
hearing. Further, though we are not required to, we have reviewed the record as it relates
to the hearing under section 388, and we have found no arguable issues for briefing.
(Phoenix H., supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 841–842.) Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.
                                       DISPOSITION
       This appeal is dismissed.

                                              14.