Court Opinion

ID: 9575724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:16:20.517682+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:52.292792
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice,
concurring:
My colleague, Justice Workman, has authored a comprehensive and superb opinion in regard to the handling of termination of parental rights cases. Hopefully, it will become the bible not only for our circuit courts, but for all who are involved in this sensitive and difficult field.
I have in the past been critical of this Court’s broadening of the use of Rule 404(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence in criminal cases, as outlined in Part II of my dissent in State v. Edward Charles L., 183 W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123, 143 (1990). However, I join in Syllabus Point 8 of the majority opinion in this case, which states:
“Prior acts of violence, physical abuse, or emotional abuse toward other children are relevant in a termination of parental rights proceeding, are not violative of W.Va.R.Evid. 404(b), and a decision regarding the admissibility thereof shall be within the sound discretion of the trial court.”
In addition to the reasons set out in the majority’s opinion justifying the use of Rule 404(b) evidence, I would point out that termination of parental rights cases are heard only by the judge. Consequently, there is not the same possibility of unfair prejudice as when Rule 404(b) evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts are paraded before the jury in a criminal case. Certainly, the penal consequences are not as severe in a parental rights termination case as in a criminal case. Therefore, the general balancing test under Rule 403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, which applies to Rule 404(b) evidence, see State v. Hanna, 180 W.Va. 598, 378 S.E.2d 640 (1989), is less strict.