Matter of Shawn S.

[*1] Matter of Shawn S. 2017 NY Slip Op 27435 Decided on July 13, 2017 Family Court, Oswego County Seager, J. Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the printed Official Reports.

Decided on July 13, 2017
Family Court, Oswego County

In the Matter of a Proceeding for Permanency under Article Ten-a of the Family Court Act Shawn S., A Child under the Age of 21 Who Has Been Freed for Adoption.



AS-25-14



Audrey Flynn, Esq. for OCDSS, Maureen H. Petersen, Esq., AFC for Shawn
Kimberly M. Seager, J.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND

Shawn S. is now fourteen years old. He has been in foster care with the Oswego County Department of Social Services (hereafter "OCDSS") for six years.[FN1] He was freed for adoption in 2014 after his birth parents executed judicial surrenders which were approved by this Court. Shawn is not yet adopted, however he has resided in the home of his pre-adoptive parents, Nick and Robin M. (hereafter "the M."), since December, 2014.[FN2]

In April 2015, Shawn's advocates began to object to Shawn's appearance at his Permanency Planning Hearings (hereafter "PPH"). Since that time, this Court has waived some personal appearances and has allowed Shawn to appear by telephone. This Court has also mandated Shawn's personal appearance over his objection. On March 23, 2017, Shawn's attorney filed a written waiver of appearance pursuant to Family Court Act section 1090-a. This Court required Shawn to appear by telephone despite his waiver and over his attorney's objection. This decision outlines this Court's reasoning and findings for requiring Shawn's telephonic appearance.

Shawn has numerous mental health diagnosis, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Emotional Disturbance, and Enuresis. Recent Permanency Planning Reports (hereafter "PPR") also indicate a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Since January, 2015 he has [*2]seen Mark Lundquist, LCSW-R (hereafter "Therapist Lundquist") for individual counseling.[FN3] He also attends medication management with Dr. Richard Bennett.[FN4] Shawn is classified as a student with emotional disturbance and, as a result, has an IEP.

In October, 2015, Dr. Bennett sent a letter, on behalf of the M.s, requesting a higher level of foster care reimbursement. In support of this request, Dr. Bennett points to Shawn's severe behaviors. Examples of these severe behaviors were not outlined in the letter.[FN5] The Court has never witnessed any aggressive or severe behaviors from Shawn.

This Court notes that Shawn tends to express his wishes differently between his various providers. By way of example, in 2015, Shawn indicated to Therapist Lundquist that he wished to renew visiting his birth mother and sister Angel.[FN6] However, at the same time it was reported by the M.s and a services worker that he did not want to renew visits.[FN7] At the same time, Shawn told this Court that he would want to see his birth mother if she lived closer, as he did not like the drive.[FN8]

In January 2016, this Court began to get concerned about the M.'s commitment to adopt Shawn, as they had done nothing to further Shawn's goal of adoption except to sign the letter of intent to adopt. In the spring of 2016, this Court advised the M.s that they needed to make a commitment to Shawn and take steps to complete the adoption or this Court would have no choice but to direct OCDSS to find another pre-adoptive home. On June 27, 2016, this Court ordered OCDSS to move Shawn to another pre-adoptive home.[FN9] To the M.s credit, by the end of August they had made the commitment to Shawn and began moving forward with their adoption of him.[FN10]

The M.s do not regularly or willingly appear in person for court proceedings. There has never been any stated reason why they could not appear, but this Court has extended them the ability to appear by phone. However, on a few occasions this Court has mandated that at least one of them appear personally so that a thorough inquiry could be conducted.

Based upon a careful review of this Court's notes, as well as within this Court's own memory, it is noted that before moving to the M.'s home Shawn wanted to visit with his mother and sister and regularly did so when able. It wasn't until March 2015 when Shawn refused to see [*3]his mother and sister.[FN11] Additionally, prior to December 2014, none of Shawn's advocates objected on his behalf to his appearances in Court, nor was this Court notified that he was anxious or concerned about attending.[FN12] It wasn't until April, 2015, after the move to the M.s, that Shawn's advocates raised concerns about behavioral and emotional duress due to appearances in this Court.[FN13]

APPLICABLE LAW

In 2007, Family Court Act section 1089(d) was amended to require judges to engage in age-appropriate consultation with a child who is the subject of a permanency hearing pursuant to Article 10-A. "The requirement, which is mandated by Federal legislation, is further bolstered by a Court rule stipulating that '[i]n any permanency hearing under Article 10-A of the Family Court Act, the child shall be represented by a [Attorney for the Child] and the Family Court shall consider the child's position regarding the child's permanency plan' " (Sobie, Commentaries, NY Fam Ct Act Sect 1089 [McKinney], citing [22 NYCRR sect 205.17(e)]). While the consultation is mandatory, the manner in which a court engages in such consultation is not specifically stated.

Early in the section's history, commentators such as Professor Merrill Sobie noted such things as the requirement for consultation with teenagers and most pre-teenagers "probably includes the child's presence in court for the purpose of consultation directly by the judge or referee in open court or in chambers" (Commentaries, NY Fam Ct Act Sect 1089 [McKinney]). For Albany County Family Court Judge W. Dennis Duggan the statute and rule establishes a presumption that children over the age of seven are required to appear personally in court (see In re Pedro M., 21 Misc 3d 645 [2008] [wherein Judge Duggan provides an excellent analysis of the statue's purpose]).

In 2009, the Third Department agreed with the fourteen-year-old child's attorney that the court erred in failing to consult with the child during a permanency hearing (see Matter of Rebecca KK., 61 AD3d 1035 [2009] [issue rendered moot as a result of the court's later consideration of the child's wishes]). The Third Department again addressed the question of age-appropriate consultation in 2012, in a case involving a then-six-year-old child (see Matter of Dakota F., 92 AD3d 1097 [3d Dept 2012]). While the Court did not decide that the lower court's failure to consult with the child was in and of itself reversible error, it made clear that the Court must consult with a child even if by simply "eliciting an opinion or the child's wishes from the attorney for the child" (id. at 1098; see also Matter of Julian P., 106 AD3d 1383 [3d Dept 2013] [court required to find some age-appropriate way to ascertain the wishes of children]). In this ever developing area of law, the Third Department further constrained the trial court's obligation in the area of age-appropriate consultation in its 2015 decision in Matter of Alexus SS., (125 AD3d 1141 [3d Dept 2015]). In Alexus SS., the Court makes clear that the Family Court must engage directly with children who are sufficiently mature enough to express themselves and that only "considering the assertion by the attorney for the children as to their desires" is insufficient [*4]consultation to meet the requirements of 1089(d) (id. at 1143).[FN14]

As a backdrop to this rule of law are the policy statements of organizations such as the National Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' (hereinafter "NCJFCJ"), the American Bar Association (hereinafter "ABA") and the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children (hereinafter "NYSPJCJC"). These organizations have long been at the forefront of legislation and judicial training to insure that children are heard as part of their permanency planning. With tools such as judicial bench cards [FN15] and publications such as "Resource Guidelines Improving Court Practice in Abuse and Neglect Cases"[FN16] and "Tools for Engaging Children in Their Court Proceedings,"[FN17] Judges are provided an awareness of the importance of consulting with children. There are many factors that must be considered when making decisions that will impact a child's future and these materials stress the importance of seeing children in person in order to ensure that they are healthy, free from intimidation and that their basic needs are being met.[FN18]

The mandate to conduct age-appropriate consultation with children has been furthered by recent legislation enacted in March, 2016. The new Family Court Act section 1090-a "outlines a three tiered approach geared to the age of the child as of the date of the hearing" (Sobie, Commentaries, NY Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a [McKinney]).[FN19] For children fourteen and older, the court "shall" permit the child to participate in person in all or any portion of the PPH (Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a (b)(1)).[FN20] When a child chooses to participate in his or her PPH, he/she has the ability to choose the manner in which to participate (see Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a (c)). A child may only waive the right to participate after consultation with his or her attorney (see Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a (a)(2)). The Attorney for the Child must then notify the court and all parties "whether or not the child is asserting his or her right to participate, and if so, the manner in which the child has chosen to participate" (Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a (d)(2)).

The only reported decision on this new legislation as of the date of this decision is Matter of Denise J., a trial level decision by Westchester County Family Court Judge Arlene E. Katz (52 Misc 3d 799 [2016]). In holding that Family Court Act section 1090-a prevented the Westchester County Department of Social Services from opposing the child's appearance at her permanency hearing, Judge Katz stated that "[w]hile it may be that Denise's personal attendance [*5]is ultimately not in her best interest, this Court is not empowered to use such determination to deny [ ] her right to participate in person" (id. at 807). In making this determination the Court went further to state that the child "and no one else, has the ability to assert or waive such right" to participate in permanency planning (id.).

Based upon the mandates of current law, it is clear that a child has an absolute right to meaningful participation in proceedings that fundamentally affect them. This Court agrees with Judge Katz that a best interest test cannot, and should not, be used to prevent a child 14 years or older from participating in their permanency hearing. However, does a child have an absolute right to waive that participation? In other words, must the Court excuse a child's presence in court when the child, after consultation with his or her attorney, requests to waive his or her right to participate in planning for his or her future?

The final subsection of Family Court Act section 1090-a states "[n]othing in this section shall be construed to compel a child who does not wish to participate in his [ ] permanency hearing to do so" (Family Court Act section 1090-a (g)). While this would appear to clearly answer the foregoing questions, this Court finds that it does not, as subsection (g) must be considered it light of its history and analyzed together with other statutory mandates [FN21] and rules of law.

In 2015, in order to "establish a statutory right for the child to attend a permanency hearing," Chapter 573 of the Laws of 2015 was adopted to add subsection (b)(iii) to Family Court Act 1089 (NY Sponsors Mem., 2015 A.B. 7679). Being concerned that "as drafted" Chapter 573 "would have mandated that a child be present for the permanency hearing regardless of the facts and without exception" Governor Cuomo secured the promise of the Legislature to a future "chapter amendment that would ensure [that] a child can decide whether he [ ] wants to participate in some or all of the permanency hearing" (Executive Mem. No. 27, 2015 Session Laws of NY, ch. 573 [December 23, 2015] [emphasis added]). Thereafter, Chapter 14 of the Laws of 2016 was adopted and approved on March 21, 2016.[FN22] Chapter 14 further modified subsection (b)(iii)[FN23] of Family Court Act section1089, and added Family Court Act section 1090-a, referred to by some as the "kids-in-court" statute. There are no sponsors or executive memorandum associated with Chapter 14.

The Chapter 573 Sponsors Memorandum recognized publications such as "Tools for Engaging Children in Their Court Proceedings"[FN24] and found that many courts had not developed rules regarding a child's participation "despite years of training and advocacy" (NY Sponsors Mem., 2015 A.B. 7679). In adopting Chapter 14, the Legislature and the Governor sought to codify best practices in permanency planning for children. It is very clear to this Court that the primary goal of these legislative actions was to require courts to engage children in planning for their futures.

The Legislature recognized that "[c]ertain children may not wish to participate or may [*6]have an important test or other event" (id.). The Governor's concern that the original legislation in Chapter 573 would be read "without exception" left the courts with no discretion. Clearly there was agreement that there may be times when courts need the ability to balance the commands of best practices with the needs of a particular child on a case-by-case basis. Subsection (g) gives balance to Family Court Act section 1090-a's otherwise no-exceptions-type language. It should not be read to give children the final say.

It is noteworthy to this Court that throughout these legislative steps to improve court practices, no legislation was presented which would modify the commands of Family Court Act section 1089(d) or to overturn holdings such as in Alexus SS., and both still mandate that a judge engage directly with a child in an age appropriate manner. Had the Executive and Legislature wished to modify these rules of law, they could have also used language such as "nothing in this article" rather than "nothing in this section" as a qualifier to Family Court Act section 1090-a(g). In other words, had the Legislature and Governor wished to give children sole decision making authority on this issue, they could have corrected the conflict between sections 1089(d) and 1090-a(g) by repealing the command for age-appropriate consultation found in Family Court Act section 1089(d).

It is a well settled principal of law that the State must act to protect the interests of children who lack proper care by their parents (see Matter of Sayeh R., 91 NY2d 306 [1997] ["In its role as parens patriae, [the State] is under a powerful duty to protect its [minors]" (id. at 306)]; see also Bennett v. Jeffreys, 40 NY2d 543 [1976]). It is also well settled that the state exercises its powers of parens patriae through the judiciary (see Matter of Sanjivini K., 40 NY2d 1025 [1976]). Examples of Family Court's authority to act to protect the interests of children are found in every Article of the Family Court Act. In exercising it parens patriae powers the Court regularly balances the needs of a child with his or her wishes. In this Court's opinion, the purpose of subsection (g) of Family Court Act section 1090-a is to make clear that the dictates of the earlier subsections do not mandate a child's participation when he or she has reason to waive his or her appearance. It should not be read to take away the court's duty to protect the interests of children, which from time to time require children to do what they do not wish to do.[FN25]

It is also important to recognize that, in filing the required waiver notice on behalf of their clients, Attorneys for Children must be zealous advocates for their clients, and in only very narrow circumstances may they act contrary to their client's wishes. Therefore, if their client wishes not to participate in planning for the future, an Attorney for the Child must, in most cases, make a 1090-a(d)(2) notification. This is so even if the attorney knows of conditions that the Court should be made aware of.

As the facts in the case at bar make clear, it is the Court which is in the best position to consider all factors to determine if a child should participate in his or her permanency planning. Certainly with input from the child, and giving due consideration to his or her wishes, the Court should not be constrained by a child's desire alone, but should be allowed to consider the totality of the circumstances in order to determine if the child should participate and the manner in which he or she participates in planning for their future.

DISCUSSION

It is hard to know when a child is being manipulated or when the child's attitude is based upon what he thinks his caregivers want. Even during direct observations, determining the meaning of what is said and why it might be said can be a challenge. This is especially so when a child, such as Shawn, is emotionally fragile.

Shawn is a very sensitive child. He has always wanted to live forever with whomever is his primary caregiver at the time.[FN26] Shawn is a child who seeks to make others happy. This Court also verily believes that it is easier for Shawn to answer questions when not looking the Court in the eye.

It is important for children, particularly neglected children like Shawn, to know that the Court cares about their needs and is willing to set aside time to discuss their future with them. It is not clear to this Court that Shawn believes that he has a future. His coping mechanism is to think in the minute rather than consider what might happen in the future. It is difficult for him to speak about his future. Shawn likely does not know that he can benefit from participating in his court proceedings, as it is well recognized that children benefit in many ways from being involved in their critical life decisions.[FN27]

The Court also benefits from Shawn's participation in planning for his future. If the Court is prevented from speaking to Shawn it becomes impossible to measure his level of satisfaction or recognize undisclosed problems. Even participation by telephone has limited probative value for the Court as it is impossible to recognize important non-verbal cues.[FN28]

The similarities in Shawn's views with those of the M.'s have not gone unnoticed by this Court, and at times have caused much concern, leading to the conclusion that it was imperative for the Court to put its own eyes upon him. This is so even over Shawn's objection.

CONCLUSION

Just as the Governor was concerned that the original language of Chapter 573 of the Laws of 2015 might be read to compel courts to have children appear before them without exception, a literal reading of Family Court Act section 1090-a(g) should cause great concern and would be a disservice to children. A proscription on the Court's ability to decide whether a child should participate or not could lead to issues going unnoticed and the needs of children being unmeet. Instead, the Court is empowered by Family Court Act sections 1089 and 1090-a to consider the totality of the circumstances when determining whether a child should participate in planning for his or her future.

Based upon the foregoing the Court will consider all factors in Shawn's case before each permanency planning hearing and thereafter decide if he will be required to attend in person or otherwise, or whether, if he continues his waiver pursuant to 1090-a, his participation is required at all.

Dated: July 13, 2017

Honorable Kimberly M. Seager

Family Court Judge Footnotes

Footnote 1: There is a significant amount of family court history involving this child, including Article 6 as well as Article 10 matters, little of which is relevant to the question before the Court, except to point out that this Court is very familiar with Shawn, his trauma history as a result of maltreatment and neglect by various family members, as well as his mental health concerns. It must be noted that a complete review includes review of proceedings under Docket Nos. N-236-11 and L-600-14, in addition to the instant docket number.

Footnote 2: Prior to his current placement, Shawn had numerous disruptions in placements during his time in foster care.

Footnote 3: It is unclear to this Court, as of the date of this writing, if Shawn continues to see Mr. Lundquist.

Footnote 4: Dr. Bennett has known the M.s for a number of years, having provided care to some of their other children.

Footnote 5: And have not been to date.

Footnote 6: See Permanency Planning Report dated September 2015.

Footnote 7: It should be noted also that the M.s had voiced their concern that visitation with his birth family would be bad for Shawn.

Footnote 8: See court appearance of October 13, 2015, which in addition to Shawn's own statements to this Court, includes a discussion of the issue with Therapist Lundquist.

Footnote 9: This was an extremely difficult decision. It was not made without significant soul searching in light of Shawn's desire to stay with the M.s. Yet as difficult as this was, this Court had to consider more than Shawn's current wishes, but had to weigh it against his unknown future with the knowledge that children are better served if they have the commitment of a forever family.

Footnote 10: It was during this same period that both Shawn and the M.s reported that weekly counseling with Therapist Lundquist was too much. Shawn no longer wanted to go and the M.s were having trouble finding time to get him there.

Footnote 11: It was noted in the PPR that Shawn's refusal to visit Angel was despite previous positive visits.

Footnote 12: Prior to December, 2014 there were several in camera appearances between Shawn and this Court.

Footnote 13: See Therapist Lundquist's letter dated April 6, 2015 and AFC Petersen's presentation during appearance on April 13, 2015.

Footnote 14: As a side note, where the court determines that its consultation with the child requires a face to face meeting, the determination to exclude the respondent from the consultation can only be done after the court expressly balances "the interests of the respondent in being present against the impact that the respondent's presence would have on the mental and emotional well-being of the child[ ]" (Matter of Desirea F., 137 AD3d 1519, 1520 [3d Dept 2016] [parent has no absolute right to be present for a section 1089 consultation, however lower court erred by excluding mother without conducting an on-the-record balancing test]).

Footnote 15: For example, "Engaging Adolescents (ages 12-15) in the Courtroom (ABA Center on Children and the Law, Bar-Youth Empowerment Project, 2008).

Footnote 16: NCJFCJ, Spring 1995.

Footnote 17: NYSPJCJC, 2008.

Footnote 18: Just as it is important to personally observe a witness in order to judge their credibility.

Footnote 19: Professor Sobie has coined the new legislation as the "kids-in-court" statute (Sobie, Commentaries, NY Fam Ct Act Sect 1090-a [McKinney]).

Footnote 20: The provisions regarding children under 14 provides less ridged guidelines that are not necessary to the matter at hand.

Footnote 21: Including Family Court Act 1089(d) which continues to require the court to consult with a child.

Footnote 22: That portion of the law modifying section 1089(b)(iii) and adding section 1089(b)(iii)(1-a) became effective 4 months earlier, on December 22, 2015.

Footnote 23: After the March, 2016 amendment, subsection (b)(iii) and (b)(iii)(1-a) concerned only notice requirements and no longer made reference to the child's right to be present at his or her permanency hearings.

Footnote 24: See Footnote 17.

Footnote 25: For example, a child who does not wish to go to school, may be ordered to do so by a court.

Footnote 26: This is so even when that primary caregiver is neglecting or abusing him as was the case while in the care of Ms. Reitz, Shawn's caregiver prior to the 2013 neglect proceeding.

Footnote 27: See NY Sponsors Mem., 2015 A.B. 7679 for some examples of the benefits to children.

Footnote 28: By way of example only, and not necessarily a fact in Shawn's case, during a telephone call it is impossible to detect that a child may be tearful, or otherwise presenting non-verbal signals of sadness, while at the same time making statements such as "everything is ok."