MATTER OF C M S

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

No. 14763 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 1979 IN THE MATTER OF C.M.S., A DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILD. Appeal from: District Court of the Second Judicial District, Honorable Arnold Olsen, Judge presiding. Counsel of Record: For Appellant: Leonard J. Haxby, Butte, Montana For Respondent : John G. Winston, County Attorney, Butte, Montana Michael E. Wheat, Deputy County Attorney, Butte, Montana Henningsen, Purcell and Genzberger, Butte, Montana Corette, Smith, Dean, Pohlman and Allen, Butte, Montana John R. Carr, Miles City, Montana Submitted on briefs: September 20, 1979 Decided: Filed: NOY * .2 N d v i : 1979 M r . J u s t i c e John Conway H a r r i s o n d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e Court. T h i s i s an a p p e a l from a judgment f i n d i n g C.M.S. a d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d c h i l d and g i v i n g permanent c u s t o d y w i t h t h e r i g h t t o c o n s e n t t o a d o p t i o n t o t h e Department o f S o c i a l and R e h a b i l i t a t i o n S e r v i c e s of t h e S t a t e o f Montana. C.M.S., a minor c h i l d , was b o r n i n B u t t e , S i l v e r Bow County, Montana, on J u l y 9, 1975. H e r mother, a t b o t h t h e t i m e of c o n c e p t i o n and d e l i v e r y , was c o n f i n e d t o t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l a t W a r m S p r i n g s , Montana, h a v i n g been a c q u i t t e d of t h e c h a r g e o f homicide by r e a s o n o f a m e n t a l d e f e c t e x c l u d ing responsibility. The name of t h e f a t h e r i s unknown, and t h i s i s r e f l e c t e d upon t h e c h i l d ' s b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e . Following t h e b i r t h o f t h e c h i l d , t h e mother was ret u r n e d t o t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l a t W a r m S p r i n g s where s h e h a s been and i s s t i l l c o n f i n e d . The c h i l d w a s p l a c e d under t h e p r o t e c t i v e g u i d a n c e of t h e B u t t e - S i l v e r Bow O f f i c e o f t h e Department o f S o c i a l and R e h a b i l i t a t i o n S e r v i c e s . Immedi- a t e l y f o l l o w i n g h e r b i r t h , on J u l y 11, 1975, t h e Department p l a c e d t h e c h i l d i n a f o s t e r home, l i c e n s e d by t h e S t a t e of Montana, t o i n s u r e t h a t t h e c h i l d s h o u l d r e c e i v e p r o p e r The c h i l d h a s remained i n t h i s same home f o r o v e r 3- care. 1 / 2 y e a r s a t t h e t i m e of h e a r i n g , and a t t h i s p o i n t , o v e r 4 years. The home p r o v i d e d f o r t h e c h i l d h a s f o u r o t h e r c h i l d r e n and i s t h e o n l y f a m i l y u n i t t h e c h i l d h a s e v e r had. During t h e 3-1/2 y e a r s p r i o r t o t h e h e a r i n g , t h e Depart- ment o f S o c i a l and R e h a b i l i t a t i o n S e r v i c e s (SRS) s o u g h t on t h r e e o c c a s i o n s t o a c q u i r e permanent c u s t o d y w i t h t h e r i g h t t o consent t o adoption. On e a c h o c c a s i o n , SRS's p e t i t i o n w a s o b j e c t e d t o by t h e g u a r d i a n o f t h e b i o l o g i c a l mother upon t h e grounds t h a t s h e was m e n t a l l y i n c o m p e t e n t , was c o n f i n e d a t t h e Warm S p r i n g s S t a t e H o s p i t a l , a d i s a b i l i t y which p r e v e n t e d h e r from c a r i n g f o r t h e c h i l d . The Honorable A. B. M a r t i n of M i l e s C i t y , Montana, made a n o r d e r f o l l o w i n g a c q u i t t a l of t h e mother on homicide c h a r g e s by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d e f e c t e x c l u d i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t h a t James B. Hathaway be a p p o i n t e d a s g u a r d i a n of t h e p e r s o n and t h e e s t a t e of t h e mother, and c o u n s e l w a s approved by t h a t c o u r t f o r t h e g u a r d i a n s h i p . On November 23, 1976, SRS f i l e d t h i s p e t i t i o n i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t o f S i l v e r Bow County f o r permanent c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d with t h e r i g h t t o consent t o her adoption. After n o t i c e was g i v e n t o a l l concerned p a r t i e s , a series of h e a r i n g s were h e l d t o d e t e r m i n e whether SRS s h o u l d be awarded t h e permanent c u s t o d y w i t h t h e r i g h t t o c o n s e n t t o a d o p t i o n . A t these hearings, t h e mother. Leonard J . Haxby a p p e a r e d on b e h a l f of John R. C a r r w a s r e t a i n e d by t h e m o t h e r ' s g u a r d i a n , James Hathaway of M i l e s C i t y , t o r e p r e s e n t t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e guardian i n t h e proceedings. James E. P u r c e l l w a s a p p o i n t e d by t h e c o u r t a s a t t o r n e y f o r t h e minor child. Michael E. Wheat, a s s i s t a n t d e p u t y c o u n t y a t t o r n e y , a p p e a r e d f o r SRS, and Dolphy 0 . Pohlman r e p r e s e n t e d t h e f o s t e r parents. A t a h e a r i n g on December 2 1 , 1978, a f t e r a l l p a r t i e s had been p r o p e r l y s e r v e d and were p r e s e n t i n c o u r t and r e p r e s e n t e d by c o u n s e l , a motion w a s made by a p p e l l a n t ' s counsel t h a t t h e c o u r t lacked proper j u r i s d i c t i o n over t h e matter. The h e a r i n g w a s c o n t i n u e d s o t h a t a d d i t i o n a l t i m e could be taken t o determine t h e r e s t o r a t i o n capacity of a p p e l l a n t , who a t t h a t t i m e w a s making a n e f f o r t t o be r e l e a s e d from t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l and r e s t o r e d t o c a p a c i t y . The c o u r t o r d e r e d t h a t t h e h e a r i n g resume on F e b r u a r y 1 5 , 1979. On t h a t d a t e t h e h e a r i n g was resumed, and a p p e l l a n t again objected t o t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e court. The c o u r t o v e r r u l e d t h e o b j e c t i o n and proceeded t o a f i n a l h e a r i n g . From t h e e v i d e n c e adduced a t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e c o u r t found t h a t C.M.S. was abused, d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d and g r a n t e d t h e p e t i t i o n of SRS f o r permanent c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d w i t h t h e r i g h t of a d o p t i o n i n t h e S t a t e . Two i s s u e s a r e r a i s e d by a p p e l l a n t : (1) Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t l a c k e d j u r i s d i c t i o n t o hear t h e m a t t e r because a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t consent t o t h e proceedings? (2) Whether t h e f i n d i n g s of t h e c o u r t t h a t C.M.S. was a b u s e d , d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d w e r e s u p p o r t e d by s u f f i c i e n t c r e d i b l e evidence? Regarding t h e f i r s t i s s u e , a p p e l l a n t m a i n t a i n s t h a t c o n s e n t was a j u r i s d i c t i o n a l p r e r e q u i s i t e t o t h e p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e i n s t a n t case. A p p e l l a n t a r g u e s t h a t SRS's p e t i t i o n was, i n e f f e c t , a p e t i t i o n f o r a d o p t i o n and under s e c t i o n 40-8-111, MCA, consent i s required f o r adoptions. Before t h e c o u r t c o u l d g r a n t SRS c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d w i t h t h e r i g h t t o consent t o her adoption, a p p e l l a n t contends t h a t SRS had t o o b t a i n e i t h e r h e r c o n s e n t o r t h a t of h e r l e g a l guardian. Without s u c h c o n s e n t , t h e c o u r t l a c k e d t h e neces- s a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n t o proceed. I n answering t h i s argument, w e n o t e f i r s t t h a t a p p e l l a n t i s correct i n asserting that, a s a general rule, p a r e n t a l consent i s required f o r adoptions. 111, MCA. S e c t i o n 40-8- I n t h i s c a s e , however, t h e c o n s e n t of a p p e l l a n t o r her l e g a l guardian w a s n o t necessary f o r t h e c o u r t t o obtain jurisdiction. The p e t i t i o n f i l e d by SRS was n o t f o r a n a d o p t i o n b u t was f o r a d e c l a r a t i o n of dependency and neglect. C h a p t e r 3 , T i t l e 4 1 of t h e Montana Code Annotated p r o v i d e s t h a t c h i l d r e n may be d e c l a r e d d e p e n d e n t and neg l e c t e d under c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s and t h a t a p e t i t i o n e r may a s k f o r permanent l e g a l c u s t o d y w i t h t h e r i g h t t o cons e n t t o adoption as r e l i e f . Parental consent i s neither necessary t o d e c l a r e a c h i l d abused, dependent o r neglected n o r t o g r a n t permanent c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d t o p e r s o n s o t h e r than t h e natural parents. A l l t h a t i s required, rather, is t h a t t h e c o u r t f i n d , upon t h e b a s i s o f s u f f i c i e n t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e , t h a t t h e c h i l d i s , w i t h i n t h e t e r m s of t h e s t a t u t o r y d e f i n i t i o n s , "abused, dependent, o r neglected." A p p e l l a n t ' s a p p a r e n t c o n f u s i o n l i e s w i t h t h e number o f s t a t u t o r y schemes a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e t e r m i n a t i o n of p a r e n t a l r i g h t s and t h e f a c t t h a t , t o some e x t e n t , t h e s e s t a t u t o r y schemes may be s a i d t o o v e r l a p . While c o n s e n t i s r e q u i r e d under some schemes, i t i s n o t r e q u i r e d under o t h e r s . Pre- v i o u s l y , w e have a t t e m p t e d t o c l a r i f y t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s between t h e s t a t u t o r y schemes where o t h e r s have been confused. W e s t a t e d i n M a t t e r o f G u a r d i a n s h i p of Aschenbrenner (1979) Mont. , 597 P.2d 1156, 1164, 36 St.Rep. "The c o n f u s i o n o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i s understandable. W e a r e able t o i d e n t i f y a t l e a s t f i v e s t a t u t o r y schemes g o v e r n i n g t h e t e r m i n a t i o n of p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o r t h e custody of [Citations omitted. 1 c h i l d r e n o r both. " N e v e r t h e l e s s , w h i l e t h e r e i s some o v e r l a p i n t h e s e various procedures a s t o g e n e r a l s u b j e c t m a t t e r , e a c h i s used f o r a d i s t i n c t p u r p o s e and s e t s f o r t h s p e c i f i c p r o c e d u r e s which must be f o l l o w e d b e f o r e a v a l i d judgment o r o r d e r may b e i s s u e d . " Here, S R S proceeded under t h e p r o v i s i o n s f o r d e c l a r i n g a c h i l d dependent o r neglected. Parental consent i s n o t r e q u i r e d under t h i s c h a p t e r f o r a t l e a s t two r e a s o n s . F i r s t , r e q u i r i n g consent could conceivably d e f e a t t h e policy and t h e p u r p o s e s of p r o t e c t i n g a b u s e d , d e p e n d e n t , and neglected children: " ( 1 ) I t i s hereby d e c l a r e d t o b e t h e p o l i c y of t h e s t a t e o f Montana t o : " ( a ) i n s u r e t h a t a l l youth a r e a f f o r d e d an a d e q u a t e p h y s i c a l and e m o t i o n a l environment t o promote normal development; " (2) I t is t h e p o l i c y of t h i s s t a t e t o provide f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f c h i l d r e n whose h e a l t h and w e l f a r e a r e a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d and f u r t h e r t h r e a t e n e d by t h e c o n d u c t o f t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e Section f o r t h e i r c a r e and p r o t e c t i o n 41-3-101, MCA. . . ." Second, i t i s , s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , i l l o g i c a l t o r e q u i r e p a r e n t a l c o n s e n t i n dependency and n e g l e c t p r o c e e d i n g s . Such p r o c e e d i n g s by t h e i r v e r y n a t u r e a r e h o s t i l e t o t h e p a r e n t s and a g a i n s t t h e i r w i s h e s . Even t h e a d o p t i o n s t a t u t e s o f t h i s s t a t e e x c e p t t h e g e n e r a l r e q u i r e m e n t o f p a r e n t a l c o n s e n t where c h i l d r e n are a b u s e d , d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d . S e c t i o n 40-8-111, provides i n p e r t i n e n t part: " ( 1 ) An a d o p t i o n of a c h i l d may be d e c r e e d when t h e r e have been f i l e d w r i t t e n c o n s e n t s t o adopt i o n e x e c u t e d by: " (a) both parents, i f l i v i n g , o r t h e surviving p a r e n t of a c h i l d , p r o v i d e d t h a t c o n s e n t s h a l l or no b from -t-e r e q u i r e d - - a f a t h e r - mother: " (iii)who h a s been j u d i c i a l l y d e p r i v e d of t h e c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d o n a c c o u n t of c r u e l t y o r n e g l e c t toward t h e c h i l d ; " ( i v ) who h a s child; . . . willfully abandoned such " ( v ) who h a s c a u s e d t h e c h i l d t o be m a i n t a i n e d t h e d e p a r t m e n t of s o c i a l and r e h a b i l i by t a t i o n s e r v i c e s o f t h e s t a t e o f Montana f o r a p e r i o d of 1 y e a r w i t h o u t c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e s u p p o r t of s a i d c h i l d d u r i n g s a i d p e r i o d , i f able; o r ... MCA, " ( v i ) i f i t i s proven t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n of t h e c o u r t t h a t s a i d f a t h e r o r mother, i f a b l e , h a s n o t c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e s u p p o r t of s a i d c h i l d d u r i n g a p e r i o d of 1 y e a r b e f o r e t h e f i l i n g of a p e t i t i o n f o r adoption." (Emphasis added.) Here, t h e r i g h t s of t h e n a t u r a l p a r e n t s t o due p r o c e s s of law w e r e p r o p e r l y r e c o g n i z e d . s e c t i o n 41-3-401, The s p e c i f i c p r o c e d u r e s i n MCA, w e r e complied w i t h . was g i v e n t o a p p e l l a n t and h e r g u a r d i a n . Proper n o t i c e The f a t h e r o f t h e c h i l d w a s n o t known, i s n o t now known, and h a s been n e v e r named on t h e c h i l d ' s b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e . A p p e l l a n t , who was p r e s e n t a t t h e h e a r i n g o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t , a l s o had a chance t o r e f u t e t h e a l l e g a t i o n s , b u t s h e c h o s e n o t t o t a k e advantage of t h e opportunity. The o n l y t e s t i m o n y p r e s e n t e d on h e r b e h a l f w a s by h e r home economics t e a c h e r a t t h e S t a t e Hospital regarding h e r a b i l i t y i n t h e classroom. W e f i n d t h a t t h e c o n s e n t of a p p e l l a n t or t h a t o f h e r l e g a l g u a r d i a n was n o t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c o u r t t o o b t a i n j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h e i n s t a n t case. Turning t o t h e second i s s u e , a p p e l l a n t a r g u e s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n f i n d i n g t h a t C.M.S. w a s a b u s e d , d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d b e c a u s e t h e f i n d i n g s w e r e n o t s u p p o r t e d by s u f f i c i e n t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e . I n a d d r e s s i n g t h e d u t y of a D i s t r i c t C o u r t t o make f i n d i n g s i n an abuse o r n e g l e c t a c t i o n , t h i s Court has recognized t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t Court's f i n d i n g s w i l l enjoy a p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s and w i l l n o t be o v e r t u r n e d u n l e s s u n s u p p o r t e d by c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e that would amount t o a c l e a r abuse of d i s c r e t i o n . I n t h e d e c i s i o n of I n re G . , Youths i n Need o f C a r e ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 1110, 1112, 3 4 St.Rep. Mont. , 1179, 1181-82, w e s t a t e d : 570 P.2d " T h i s C o u r t i s m i n d f u l t h a t t h e p r i m a r y d u t y of deciding t h e proper custody of t h e c h i l d i s t h e t a s k of t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . A s a r e s u l t , a l l reasonable presumptions a s t o t h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t w i l l b e made. [ C i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d . I Due t o t h i s presumption o f c o r r e c t n e s s , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f i n d i n g s w i l l n o t b e d i s t u r b e d on a p p e a l u n l e s s t h e r e i s a m i s t a k e o f law o r f i n d i n g o f f a c t n o t s u p p o r t e d by c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t h a t would amount t o a clear a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n . " A t i s s u e h e r e i s whether t h e r e was s u f f i c i e n t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h e f i n d i n g t h a t C.M.S. p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d . " t i o n 41-3-102, was " a b u s e d , de- Those t e r m s a r e d e f i n e d under s e c - MCA: " ( 2 ) 'Abuse' o r ' n e g l e c t ' means: " ( b ) t h e commission o r o m i s s i o n of any a c t o r a c t s by any p e r s o n i n t h e s t a t u s o f p a r e n t , g u a r d i a n , o r c u s t o d i a n who t h e r e b y and by r e a s o n of p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l i n c a p a c i t y o r o t h e r c a u s e r e f u s e s , o r , w i t h s t a t e and p r i v a t e a i d and a s s i s t a n c e , i s u n a b l e t o d i s c h a r g e t h e d u t i e s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r p r o p e r and necessary subsistence, education, medical, o r any o t h e r care n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e y o u t h ' s phys i c a l , moral and e m o t i o n a l w e l l b e i n g . " ( 3 ) 'Dependent y o u t h ' means a y o u t h who i s abandoned, d e p e n d e n t upon t h e p u b l i c f o r supp o r t , d e s t i t u t e , without parents o r guardian o r under t h e c a r e and s u p e r v i s i o n of a s u i t a b l e a d u l t , o r who h a s no p r o p e r g u i d a n c e t o p r o v i d e f o r h i s n e c e s s a r y p h y s i c a l , m o r a l , and e m o t i o n a l w e l l being . . ." W e f i n d t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t Court d i d n o t abuse i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n f i n d i n g t h a t C.M.S. w a s " a b u s e d , d e p e n d e n t and n e g l e c t e d " and t h a t t h e r e was s u f f i c i e n t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t o support t h e f i n d i n g s of t h e c o u r t . With r e s p e c t t o t h e f i n d i n g o f " a b u s e o r n e g l e c t , " w e t a k e j u d i c i a l n o t i c e of t h e order f i l e d i n t h i s case t h a t a p p e l l a n t w a s confined t o t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l i n 1973; t h a t s h e h a s s u f f e r e d from a n organic b r a i n dysfunction s i n c e b i r t h ; t h a t she experiences d e l u s i o n s ; and, t h a t h e r c o n d i t i o n i s d i a g n o s e d a s p a r a n o i d s c h i z o p h r e n i a w i t h no hope o f s i g n i f i c a n t improvement in t h e foreseeable future. The r e c o r d a l s o d i s c l o s e s t h a t a p p e l l a n t w a s p r e s e n t a t t h e h e a r i n g s h e l d by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t r e g a r d i n g SRS's p e t i t i o n , b u t made no a t t e m p t t o p e r s o n a l l y t e s t i f y a s t o h e r p a r e n t a l f i t n e s s . The o n l y t e s t i m o n y p r e s e n t e d on b e h a l f o f a p p e l l a n t r e g a r d i n g h e r p a r e n t a l f i t n e s s w a s t h a t of a home economics t e a c h e r from t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l who t e s t i f i e d t h a t a p p e l l a n t had s u c c e s s f u l l y completed a home economics c o u r s e , o n e a s p e c t o f which w a s c h i l d development. We b e l i e v e t h a t , under t h e s t a t u t e , a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n f i n e m e n t i s a s u f f i c i e n t a c t o f o m i s s i o n which, by r e a s o n of p h y s i c a l and m e n t a l i n c a p a c i t y , r e n d e r s a p p e l l a n t u n a b l e t o d i s c h a r g e t h e d u t i e s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c h i l d ' s well-being. With r e s p e c t t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t C.M.S. w a s a dependent youth, t h e record d i s c l o s e s t h a t a p p e l l a n t i s p o s s e s s e d o f a $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 e s t a t e and t h a t s h e h a s c o n t r i b u t e d i n no s u b s t a n t i a l way t o t h e s u p p o r t of C.M.S. R a t h e r , t h e s u p p o r t which h a s been g i v e n h a s been p r o v i d e d by SRS and t h e f o s t e r p a r e n t s . Finally, the record indi- c a t e s t h a t a p p e l l a n t , b e c a u s e of h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n , c o u l d n o t p r o v i d e p r o p e r g u i d a n c e f o r C.M.S.'s necessary physical, moral and e m o t i o n a l w e l l - b e i n g . A p p e l l a n t i s demanding e v e r y f a c e t o f s t a t u t o r y scheme b e s e v e r e l y and s t r i c t l y s c r u t i n i z e d t o p r o t e c t t h e r i g h t s of t h e n a t u r a l p a r e n t . However, p r o c e e d i n g s conducted under t h e " a b u s e s t a t u t e " demand and p r o v i d e a c e r t a i n amount o f e l a s t i c i t y t o the court. Every c a s e i s u n i q u e and must b e d e a l t w i t h on i t s own m e r i t s . Absent a c l e a r a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n t h e d e c i s i o n of t h e D i s t r i c t Court i s t o be upheld. There i s no s u c h a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n h e r e . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t i n a l l s u c h h e a r i n g s h a s a n o b l i g a t i o n t o b a l a n c e t h e r i g h t s of t h e mother and t h e c h i l d . And w h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r i g h t s are of g r e a t i m p o r t , i t i s n o t an a b s o l u t e r i g h t . I n a r e c e n t m a t t e r from t h e D i s t r i c t o f Columbia, M a t t e r o f t h e Adoption o f J.S.R. (D.C. 1 9 7 7 ) , 374 A.2d 860, 863, t h e c o u r t h e l d : "The r i g h t o f a n a t u r a l p a r e n t t o r a i s e o n e ' s c h i l d i s a fundamental and e s s e n t i a l o n e which i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y protected. [Citations o m i t t e d . ] However, i t i s n o t a n a b s o l u t e one. The s t a t e h a s b o t h t h e r i g h t and t h e d u t y t o p r o t e c t minor c h i l d r e n t h r o u g h j u d i c i a l d e t e r minations of t h e i r i n t e r e s t . To t h i s end t h e s t a t e h a s a s u b s t a n t i a l r a n g e of a u t h o r i t y t o p r o t e c t t h e w e l f a r e of t h e c h i l d . [Citations omitted. 1" Mon t See a l s o Matter o f G u a r d i a n s h i p o f Doney ( 1 9 7 7 ) , , 570 P.2d 575, 577, 34 St.Rep. G u a r d i a n s h i p of Aschenbrenner ( 1 9 7 9 ) , P.2d 1156, 1160, 36 St.Rep. . 1107, 1 1 1 0 ; M a t t e r o f Mon t . , 597 1282, 1284; Boyer v . Boyer (Ohio This Court r e c e n t l y faced a s i m i l a r contention. I n t h e Matter of Inquiry i n t o J.J.S., Mont. , Youth i n Need o f C a r e ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 577 P.2d 378, 381, 35 St.Rep. 394, 397, t h e Court held: "We f i n d no a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i n awarding permanent c u s t o d y t o SRS. I n determining t h e custody i s s u e , t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d i s t h e paramount c o n c e r n . In the M a t t e r o f Henderson ( 1 9 7 5 ) , 168 Mont. 329, 342 P.2d 1204, t h i s C o u r t s a i d : "'What i s , o r what i s n o t i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e c h i l d depends upon t h e f a c t s and circums t a n c e s of each case. The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of dec i d i n g c u s t o d y i s a d e l i c a t e one which i s lodged with the d i s t r i c t court. The judge h e a r i n g o r a l testimony i n such a controversy has a superior a d v a n t a g e i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s a m e , and h i s d e c i s i o n o u g h t n o t t o b e d i s t u r b e d e x c e p t upon a c l e a r showing o f a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n . ' [ C i t a t i o n s omitted . I " While i t i s t h e f u n c t i o n of t h i s C o u r t whenever poss i b l e t o p r o t e c t t h e u n i t y o f t h e f a m i l y under s e c t i o n 41-3- 101, MCA, t h i s i s n o t a f a c t o r i n t h i s c a u s e . Here t h e c h i l d h a s n e v e r had a v i a b l e p a r e n t - c h i l d r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e mother. I n f a c t , t h e c h i l d h a s n e v e r s e e n o r been a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h e r n a t u r a l mother. family--her f o s t e r home. t h e c h i l d has. She knows b u t o n e I t i s the only family r e l a t i o n s h i p I n d e e d , h e r f o s t e r p a r e n t s have w i l l i n g l y u n d e r t a k e n t h e o b l i g a t i o n s o f r a i s i n g t h i s c h i l d , and what appellant neglects t o realize is t h a t the obligations t h a t a r e a t t e n d a n t w i t h p a r e n t h o o d have n e v e r i n any way been assumed by a p p e l l a n t , t h e n a t u r a l mother. This Court i n a r e c e n t decision, I n re G., P.2d a t 1 1 1 4 , 3 4 St.Rep. s u p r a , 570 a t 1179, s e t f o r t h t h e c r i t e r i a which w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d i n dependent and n e g l e c t c a s e s . There we n o t e d : " C h i l d r e n have a r i g h t under t h e ' b e s t i n t e r e s t t e s t ' t o r e c e i v e normal p h y s i c a l and e m o t i o n a l development. By l o o k i n g a t t h e t o t a l i t y of t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e c o u r t may d e t e r m i n e what i s the child's 'best interest.'" Viewing a l l t h e t e s t i m o n y p r e s e n t e d , o n e r e l e v a n t f a c t emerges: The c h i l d i s a n e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f a f a m i l y . She h a s developed a n e m o t i o n a l and p h y s i c a l t r u s t f o r h e r f o s t e r parents. The r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t s h e h a s w i t h h e r " b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s " c a n o n l y be developed i n a l o v i n g environment. T h i s c h i l d i s undergoing a normal and p h y s i c a l development w i t h i n a p r o p e r f a m i l y home s i t u a t i o n , and i t i s i n h e r b e s t i n t e r e s t t h a t s h e r e m a i n s i n same. The c o u r t r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e competing r i g h t s between t h e c h i l d and t h e mother h e r e . The c o u r t a p p o i n t e d counsel t o represent t h e c h i l d ' s i n t e r e s t s . After reviewing a l l o f t h e f a c t s and e v i d e n c e , t h e r e c a n b e b u t o n e conclusion--the b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f C.M.S. c a n o n l y be s e r v e d by a f f i r m i n g t h e judgment of t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . The judgment of the District Court is in accord with its findings of fact and conclusions of law and is affirmed. We concur:

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.