E.T. Ex Rel. Dougherty v. George

681 F. Supp. 2d 1151 (2010)

E.T., K.R., C.B., and G.S., by their next friend, Frank Dougherty, on their behalf and on behalf of all those similarly situated, Plaintiffs,
v.
Ronald M. GEORGE, Chair of the Judicial Council of California, in his official capacity; William C. Vickrey, Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts of the Judicial Council, in his official capacity; and James M. Mize, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento, in his official capacity, Defendants.

No. 2:09-cv-01950 FCD DAD.

United States District Court, E.D. California.

January 7, 2010.

Robyn T. Callahan, Jonathan Michael Cohen, Winston & Strawn LLP, San Francisco, CA, for Plaintiffs.

Robert A. Naeve, Jones Day, Irvine, CA, for Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

FRANK C. DAMRELL, JR., District Judge.

This matter is before the court on defendants Ronald M. George, William C. Vickrey, and James M. Mize's (collectively "defendants") motion to abstain and to dismiss the complaint. Plaintiffs E.T., K.R., C.B., and G.S., by their next friend, Frank Dougherty, (collectively "plaintiffs") oppose the motions. On November 6, 2009, the court heard oral argument on defendants' arguments relating to justiciability. For the reasons set forth below, defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED.

BACKGROUND

This case arises out of plaintiffs' allegations that the caseloads in dependency courts in Sacramento County are so excessive that they violate federal and state constitutional and statutory provisions. Specifically, plaintiffs contend that the overburdened dependency court system frustrates both the ability of the courts to adjudicate and provide children with a meaningful opportunity to be heard and the effective, adequate, and competent assistance of counsel. (Compl., filed July 16, 2009.)

A. Dependency Court Proceedings

Dependency proceedings are conducted to protect the safety and well-being of an abused or neglected child whose parents or guardians cannot or will not do so or who themselves pose a threat to the child. (Compl. ¶ 28.) They commence with an initial hearing, which is held to determine whether a child falls within one of ten jurisdictional bases of the juvenile court. Cal. Welf. & Inst.Code §§ 300, 305, 306, 311, 325 & 332. Dependency courts ultimately conduct an evidentiary hearing regarding the proper disposition of the child. Id. §§ 319, 352, 355 & 358. In most cases, at the disposition hearing, dependency courts "determine what services the child and the family need to be reunited and free of court supervision." Bridget A. v. Superior Court, 148 Cal. App. 4th 285, 302-03, 55 Cal. Rptr. 3d 647 (2d Dist.2007). However, the courts have a variety of options, from reuniting the family and child to removing the child from parental custody and placing the child in foster care. See generally id. (outlining court options at disposition hearings). After a child is placed under court supervision, subsequent court proceedings and reviews are required every six months. Id.; see Cal. Welf. & Inst.Code §§ 364, 366.21, 366.22.

California Welfare & Institutions Code § 317 requires that counsel be appointed for children in almost all dependency cases. (Compl. ¶ 34.) Specifically, § 317(c) provides that "[i]f a child is not represented by counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the child unless the court finds that the child would not benefit from the appointment of counsel." This finding must be made on the record. Id. Pursuant to a Standing Order of the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento, third party, court-appointed attorneys are automatically appointed to represent each child who is the subject of dependency proceedings in the county; these attorneys are also appointed as the child's guardian ad litem. (Compl. ¶ 50.)

B. Functions and Funding within the Dependency Court System

The Judicial Council of California is the body responsible for overseeing the statewide administration of justice in the California courts. (Compl. ¶ 9.) As Chair of the Judicial Council, the Honorable Ronald M. George,^[1] defendant, is responsible for the allocation of the judicial branch budget, including the allocation of relevant funds for courts and court-appointed child representation in dependency court proceedings. (Id.) The Administrative Office of the Courts (the "AOC") is the staff agency of the judicial council and is responsible for California's Dependency Representation, Administration, Funding, and Training ("DRAFT") program. (Compl. ¶ 10.) DRAFT was established in July 2004 by the Judicial Council of California to centralize the administration of court-appointed counsel services within the AOC. (Compl. ¶ 55.) As Administrative Director, defendant William C. Vickrey is responsible for the administration of the AOC. (Compl. ¶ 10.) Finally, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, the Honorable James M. Mize, defendant, is responsible for allocating resources within the Sacramento County Superior Court in a manner that promotes the implementation of state and local budget priorities and that ensures equal access to justice and the ability of the court to carry out its functions effectively. (Compl. ¶ 11.) The Presiding Judge also has the authority to assign judges to departments, such as Sacramento County Superior Court's dependency courts. (Id.)

The Superior Court of Sacramento previously paid for the court-appointed attorneys' services pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding. (Compl. ¶ 55.) In 2008, however, the Superior Court of Sacramento agreed to participate in the DRAFT program. When Sacramento County joined the DRAFT program, the AOC became responsible for paying for the court-appointed attorneys' services. (Id.)

Plaintiffs allege that the staff attorneys for the non-profit agency, who serve as court appointed counsel for the approximately 5,100 children subject to dependency proceedings in the County of Sacramento, carry as many as 395 cases at a time. (Compl. ¶ 51.) Plaintiffs assert this is more than double the 188 caseload standard established by the Judicial Council and nearly four times the number promulgated by the National Association of Counsel for Children. As a consequence, plaintiffs allege that the appointed lawyers are unable to adequately perform even the minimum tasks required under the law and in accordance with the American Bar Association's ("ABA") standards. Specifically, these lawyers rarely meet with their child clients in their foster care placements, rely on brief telephone contact or courtroom exchanges to communicate, cannot conduct complete case investigations or child-specific legal analysis, virtually never file extraordinary writs or pursue appeals, and rely on overworked county social workers without conducting an informed review of Child Protective Services' ("CPS") placement decisions. (Id.) Further, plaintiffs allege that the high caseload and inadequate salaries of these lawyers lead to high attorney turnover, which exacerbates the problems associated with adequate representation. (Compl. ¶ 52.) Plaintiffs contend that the court-appointed attorneys' unlawful caseloads are due to inadequate funding and assert that if the AOC had followed its own guidelines for DRAFT in funding the court-appointed attorneys, counsel could have met the recommended Judicial Council caseload standards. (Compl. ¶ 56.)

Plaintiffs allege that the County of Sacramento has only five judicial referees, who preside over dependency proceedings, responsible for approximately 5,100 active dependency cases. (Compl. ¶ 29.) Plaintiffs allege that this affords referees roughly two minutes of courtroom time per case. (Id.) Therefore, plaintiffs contend that a foster child appearing in a Sacramento County dependency court with ineffective counsel cannot reasonably expect the judicial referee to serve as a "backstop" and look out for his or her best interests. (Id.)

C. Named Plaintiffs

Plaintiff E.T. is a fourteen-year-old girl who is in her third foster care placement in less than one year. She is a special education student who has been diagnosed with depression. She was assigned a court-appointed attorney in October 2008 and has had two attorneys since then. (Compl. ¶ 59.) Although E.T. has had fourteen court hearings, her attorneys have met with her briefly only three times and have visited her at only one placement. (Compl. ¶¶ 60-61.) They have been unable to stabilize her foster care placements. (Compl. ¶ 61.) Further, they have been unable to investigate her mental health issues to notify the dependency court of any problems. (Compl. ¶ 62.)

Plaintiff K.R. is a thirteen-year-old girl who is in her fifth foster care placement. She suffers from severe behavioral problems, including oppositional defiance disorder. She was assigned a court-appointed attorney in early 1996. When her case was reopened in September 2005, she was again assigned a court-appointed legal representative. K.R. has had six attorneys since then. (Compl. ¶ 63.) However, although her case has had seventeen court hearings since September 2005, K.R.'s attorneys have not visited any of her foster care placements or had any contact with school personnel. (Compl. ¶ 64.) K.R. has been interviewed only once outside of court, by a social worker, and virtually nothing has been done to investigate K.R.'s interests beyond the scope of the dependency court proceedings. K.R.'s attorneys have been unable to file pleadings, motions, responses, or objections as necessary to protect her interests. Further, they have been unable to stabilize her foster care placements, determine whether she requires public services, or secure a proper educational placement. (Compl. ¶ 65.)

Plaintiff C.B. is a seventeen-year-old, developmentally disabled girl, who is in her tenth foster care placement. She was assigned a court-appointed attorney on February 17, 1999, and she has had ten attorneys over the last ten years. (Compl. ¶ 67.) Her attorneys have not visited her in at least seven of her ten placements. She has had five court and administrative hearings, but her lawyers did not meet with her before the majority of those hearings. (Compl. ¶ 68.) C.B.'s attorneys have been unable to file pleadings, motions, responses or objections as necessary to protect her interests. They have done little to investigate C.B.'s needs and emotional health beyond the scope of the juvenile proceedings or to ensure that she is in a stable foster care placement. (Compl. ¶ 68.) Further, they have failed to ensure compliance with an agreement that C.B. be able to see her sibling, who has been adopted, or to make any effort to meet up with her other adult sibling. (Compl. ¶ 69.) They have also been unable to investigate her educational interests to assess whether her interests need to be protected by the institution or other administrative or judicial proceedings. (Compl. ¶ 70.) C.B. will "age out" of the foster case system when she turns 18; her attorneys have not had time to assess whether her psychological or developmental issues require that she be allowed to remain in the system until she is 21. (Compl. ¶ 71.)

G.S. is an eighteen-year-old, emotionally disturbed boy in his tenth foster case placement. He has had eleven attorneys since he first entered the dependency system on May 3, 2001. (Compl. ¶ 72.) G.S. has had 28 court and administrative hearings, but his lawyers did not meet him before the majority of those hearings, including the original detention hearing. (Compl. ¶ 73.) G.S.'s attorneys have been unable to file pleadings, motions, responses or objections as necessary to protect his interests. They have done little to investigate G.S.'s needs and emotional health beyond the scope of the juvenile proceedings or to ensure that he is in a stable foster placement, including failing to visit him in nine of his ten placements. (Compl. ¶ 74.) They have also failed to ensure compliance with court orders, including one that allows him to visit his siblings. (Compl. ¶ 75.) Further, his attorneys have not had time to assess whether his psychological issues require that he be allowed to remain in the system until he is 21 or make efforts relating to his potential imminent transition to life outside the foster care system. (Compl. ¶ 76.)

D. The Litigation

On July 16, 2009, plaintiffs filed suit in this case, by their next friend Frank Dougherty, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, specifically,

All children currently and hereafter represented by court-appointed counsel in juvenile dependency proceedings in the Sacramento County Superior Court.

(Compl. ¶ 12.) They assert federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of alleged (1) procedural due process violations from excessive attorney caseloads; (2) substantive due process violations from excessive attorney caseloads; (3) procedural due process violations from excessive judicial caseloads; (4) deprivation of rights under the Federal Child Welfare Act ("FCWA"); and (5) deprivation of rights under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act ("CAPTA"). Plaintiffs also assert state law claims arising out of alleged (1) violation of the inalienable right to pursue and obtain safety set forth in Article I, § 1 of the California Constitution for failure to provide fair and adequate tribunals and effective legal counsel; (2) violation of due process as guaranteed in Article I, § 7 of the California Constitution for failure to provide adequate and effective legal representation in dependency proceedings; (3) violation of Welfare and Institutions Code § 317(c); and (4) violation of Welfare and Institutions Code § 317.5(b).

Through this action, plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that defendants have violated, continue to violate, and/or will violate plaintiffs' rights as guaranteed by the above constitutions and statutes. Plaintiffs also seek injunctive relief, restraining future violations of these rights, and an order "mandating that [d]efendants provide the additional resources required to comply with the Judicial Council of California and the National Association of Counsel for Children's recommended caseloads for each court-appointed attorney." (Prayer for Relief.)

STANDARD

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), a pleading must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009). Under notice pleading in federal court, the complaint must "give the defendant fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). "This simplified notice pleading standard relies on liberal discovery rules and summary judgment motions to define disputed facts and issues and to dispose of unmeritorious claims." Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512, 122 S. Ct. 992, 152 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2002).

On a motion to dismiss, the factual allegations of the complaint must be accepted as true. Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 322, 92 S. Ct. 1079, 31 L. Ed. 2d 263 (1972). The court is bound to give plaintiff the benefit of every reasonable inference to be drawn from the "well-pleaded" allegations of the complaint. Retail Clerks Int'l Ass'n v. Schermerhorn, 373 U.S. 746, 753 n. 6, 83 S. Ct. 1461, 10 L. Ed. 2d 678 (1963). A plaintiff need not allege "`specific facts' beyond those necessary to state his claim and the grounds showing entitlement to relief." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S. Ct. 1955. "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949.

Nevertheless, the court "need not assume the truth of legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations." United States ex rel. Chunie v. Ringrose, 788 F.2d 638, 643 n. 2 (9th Cir.1986). While Rule 8(a) does not require detailed factual allegations, "it demands more than an unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949. A pleading is insufficient if it offers mere "labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955; Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950 ("Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice."). Moreover, it is inappropriate to assume that the plaintiff "can prove facts which it has not alleged or that the defendants have violated the . . . laws in ways that have not been alleged." Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Cal. State Council of Carpenters, 459 U.S. 519, 526, 103 S. Ct. 897, 74 L. Ed. 2d 723 (1983).

Ultimately, the court may not dismiss a complaint in which the plaintiff has alleged "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007)). Only where a plaintiff has failed to "nudge [his or her] claims across the line from conceivable to plausible," is the complaint properly dismissed. Id. at 1952. While the plausibility requirement is not akin to a probability requirement, it demands more than "a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. at 1949. This plausibility inquiry is "a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Id. at 1950.

In ruling upon a motion to dismiss, the court may consider only the complaint, any exhibits thereto, and matters which may be judicially noticed pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 201. See Mir v. Little Co. Of Mary Hospital, 844 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir.1988); Isuzu Motors Ltd. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc., 12 F. Supp. 2d 1035, 1042 (C.D.Cal.1998).

ANALYSIS

Plaintiffs' claims describe critical dependency court system failures, which adversely affect the lives of thousands of children. The complaint depicts a court system in which the voices of these children are not heard and their stories are not told while important decisions affecting their health and welfare are being made.

While acknowledging the gravity of these issues, defendants assert that such claims are nonjusticiable. Specifically, defendants assert that "the complaint impermissibly attempts to embroil this court in administration and funding of the dependency courts in the Superior Court of Sacramento County." (Defs.' Mot. to Dismiss, filed Sept. 18, 2009, at 15.) Defendants contend that plaintiffs' claims implicate duties involving state judicial processes that cannot be properly determined by a federal court and plaintiffs seek remedies that cannot be molded without violating established principles of equity, comity, and federalism.

"The judicial power of the United States defined by Art[icle] III is not an unconditioned authority to determine the constitutionality of legislative or executive acts." Valley Forge Christian Coll. v. Americans United For Separation of Church and State, Inc., 454 U.S. 464, 471, 102 S. Ct. 752, 70 L. Ed. 2d 700 (1982). Rather, Article III limits "the federal judicial power `to those disputes which confine federal courts to a role consistent with a system of separated powers and which are traditionally thought to be capable of resolution through the judicial process.'" Id. at 472, 102 S. Ct. 752 (quoting Flast v. Cohen, 392 U.S. 83, 97, 88 S. Ct. 1942, 20 L. Ed. 2d 947 (1968)); Steel Co. v. Citizens For A Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 102, 118 S. Ct. 1003, 140 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1998).

Cases are thus nonjusticiable when the subject matter of the litigation is inappropriate for federal judicial consideration. Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 198, 82 S. Ct. 691, 7 L. Ed. 2d 663 (1962). In determining whether a case is justiciable, "consideration of the cause is not wholly and immediately foreclosed; rather, the [c]ourt's inquiry necessarily proceeds to the point of deciding whether the duty asserted can be judicially identified and its breach judicially determined, and whether protection for the right asserted can be judicially molded." Id. "It is the role of the courts to provide relief to claimants, in individual or class actions, who have suffered, or will imminently suffer, actual harm; it is not the role of courts, but that of the political branches, to shape the institutions of government in such fashion as to comply with the laws and the Constitution." Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349, 116 S. Ct. 2174, 135 L. Ed. 2d 606 (1996). These basic concerns are heightened when a lawsuit challenges core activities of state responsibility. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 378-79, 96 S. Ct. 598, 46 L. Ed. 2d 561 (1976).

"Since the beginning of this country's history Congress has, subject to few exceptions, manifested a desire to permit state courts to try state cases free from interference by federal courts." Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43, 91 S. Ct. 746, 27 L. Ed. 2d 669 (1971). This desire is premised upon the fundamental and vital role of comity in the formation of this country's government and "perhaps for lack of a better and clearer way to describe it, is referred to by many as `Our Federalism.'" Id. at 44, 91 S. Ct. 746. Our Federalism demonstrates "a proper respect for state functions, a recognition of the fact that the entire country is made up of a Union of separate state governments, and a continuance of the belief that the National Government will fare best if the States and their institutions are left free to perform their separate functions in separate ways." Id. It represents "a system in which there is sensitivity to the legitimate interests of both State and National Governments, and in which the National Government, anxious though it may be to vindicate and protect federal rights and federal interests, always endeavors to do so in ways that will not unduly interfere with the legitimate activities of the States." Id.

It is within the context of this foundational concept of comity, which strikes at the heart of the country's governing principles, that the court must view plaintiffs' serious claims. The court is cognizant of the potential hardships inflicted upon one of society's most vulnerable populations if plaintiff's claims are true. The court is equally cognizant of the profound consequential principles of federalism implicated by this case. Accordingly, it is with careful attention to these two significant but conflicting interests that the court undertakes its analysis of justiciability pursuant to its equitable discretion and under the principles set forth by Younger v. Harris and its progeny.^[2]

1. Equitable Abstention^[3]

Principles of equity, comity, and federalism preclude equitable intervention when a federal court is asked to enjoin a state court proceeding. O'Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488, 499-500, 94 S. Ct. 669, 38 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1974). The doctrine of equity jurisprudence provides that a "court of equity should not act . . . when the moving party has an adequate remedy at law and will not suffer irreparable injury if denied equitable relief." Id. at 499, 94 S. Ct. 669.

The purpose of the doctrine of equitable abstention is to sustain "the special delicacy of the adjustment to be preserved between federal equitable power and State administration of its own law." O'Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488, 500, 94 S. Ct. 669, 38 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1974) (quotation omitted). If the equitable relief requested requires intrusive follow-up into state court proceedings, it constitutes "a form of the monitoring of the operation of state court functions that is antipathetic to established principles of comity." Id. Indeed, the Supreme Court has recently noted that "institutional reform injunctions often raise sensitive federal concerns." Horne v. Flores, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 2579, 2593, 174 L. Ed. 2d 406 (2009) (holding that Court of Appeals should have inquired into whether changed conditions satisfied statutory violations that the continuing structural reform injunction was directed to address). These "[f]ederalism concerns are heightened when . . . a federal court decree has the effect of dictating state or local budget priorities. States and local governments have limited funds. When a federal court orders that money be appropriated for one program, the effect is often to take funds away from other important programs." Horne, 129 S.Ct. at 2593-94.

"When the relief sought would require restructuring of state governmental institutions, federal courts will intervene only upon finding a clear constitutional violation, and even then only to the extent necessary to remedy that violation." Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n v. Eu, 979 F.2d 697, 703 (9th Cir.1992). Both the First and Fifth Circuits have adjudicated cases relating to overburdened court systems and the substantial delays occasioned by these serious resource allocation problems, and both Circuits have held that the doctrine of equitable abstention barred consideration of the merits of such claims. In Ad Hoc Committee on Judicial Administration v. Massachusetts, the plaintiffs brought suit against the state, the state legislature, and the governor of Massachusetts to compel the furnishing of additional court facilities. 488 F.2d 1241 (1st Cir. 1973). The First Circuit noted that the Supreme Court has never found per se unconstitutional delay in a civil case; rather, "whether delay is a violation of due process depends on the individual case." Id. at 1244. Therefore, the First Circuit held the case was not justiciable because, in order to define the constitutional duty, the court would have to reduce due process into formulae and timetables establishing the maximum permissible delay, which would replace a context specific inquiry into the effect of the delay on the parties, their diligence, the nature of the case, and the interests at stake. Id. Similarly, to determine whether that duty was violated, the court would have to extrapolate from statistics, as opposed to considering factors such as discovery, negotiation, investigation, strategy, counsel's engagement on other matters, and even procrastination. Id. at 1245.

Further, the Ad Hoc Committee court recognized that the relief sought would be unmanageable and outside the scope of the federal judiciary. Specifically, the First Circuit noted

a federal judge faced with the awesome task of ordering measures to cut down the waiting period in a state's judiciary could hardly consider merely the augmentation of resources. He would also have to inquire into the administration of the system, its utilization of personnel, the advisability of requiring adoption of techniques such as pre-trial conferences, different calendar arrangements, split trials, and the like, and countless other administrative matters about which books have been written and courses taught, and as to the relative value of which there remains much dispute.

Id. In essence, the relief requested by the plaintiff would require the court to sit as a receiver over the state court system. Id. at 1246 (noting that "[w]hile the state judiciary might appreciate additional resources, it would scarcely welcome the intermeddling with its administration which might follow."). Moreover, the court recognized that financing and organization of the federal and state judiciary have been historically "left to the people, through their legislature." Id. While, in certain circumstances, courts have ordered a state to furnish certain levels of medical or psychiatric care to those under the states' control, in such cases, the alternative, either explicitly or implicitly, was the closure of noncompliant institutions. Id. at 1246. Any such implied threat to close down a state court system "would amount to little more than a quixotic and unwarranted intrusion into an entire branch of government." Id. Accordingly, the court concluded "it would be both unprecedented and unseemly for a federal judge to attempt a reordering of state priorities" as required by the plaintiff's requested injunctive relief. Id. at 1245-46. While "[t]he dictates of a federal court might seem to promise easy relief, . . . they would more likely frustrate and delay meaningful reform which, in a system so complex, cannot be dictated from outside but must develop democratically from within the state." Id. at 1246.

Similarly, in Gardner v. Luckey, the Fifth Circuit held that the claims brought by plaintiff "contemplate[d] exactly the sort of intrusive and unworkable supervision of state judicial processes condemned [by the Supreme Court]." 500 F.2d 712, 715 (5th Cir.1974). The plaintiffs filed a class action against Florida Public Defender Offices, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel arising out of inadequate funding and excessive caseloads. Id. at 713. The plaintiffs asked the court to declare the Offices' caseloads excessive, to specify how excessive they were, and to enjoin acceptance of overload cases. Id. at 713. The court held that equitable abstention barred suit because the relief requested would require an ongoing audit of state criminal proceedings. Id. at 715. Further, the court noted that plaintiffs could file habeas actions to challenge their custody. Id.

The Ninth Circuit, however, has held that equitable abstention did not bar federal jurisdiction in a case for declaratory relief arising out of delays in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, 979 F.2d at 703-04. In Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, the plaintiff alleged constitutional violations of its rights to access the courts and equal protection arising out a statute that prescribed the number of judges on the court. The Ninth Circuit distinguished the First Circuit's decision in Ad Hoc Committee and held that equitable abstention did not apply to bar federal court jurisdiction. First, the plaintiff alleged that the average time to resolution of civil cases in the Los Angeles County Superior Court was unconstitutional. Id. at 703. The Ninth Circuit noted that this was a less difficult question than that before the First Circuit, whether a delay was constitutionally acceptable in any given case. Id. Second, the plaintiff sought only declaratory, not injunctive relief. As such, the Ninth Circuit noted that any order would not directly require supervision of the state court system by federal judges. Therefore, the Ninth Circuit concluded, "although not without some trepidation," that the claims for declaratory relief were appropriately before it. Id. at 704.

Judge Kleinfeld, concurring in the decision, which ultimately dismissed the plaintiff's claims on the merits, disagreed with the majority's decision regarding equitable abstention. Id. at 708-11. In noting that declaratory judgments are discretionary, he asserted that a federal court cannot properly declare a state legislative action regarding the allocation of judges to be wrong, "where there are no legal standards to say what number is right." Id. at 709-10. Further, because it would be impossible to derive a standard without considering (1) "methods of judicial administration within the state court system," (2) "the receptiveness of the state court system to various types of claims," (3) "undesirability of delay in litigation relative to benefits of allocating resources to other uses," and (4) "many other subtle matters of state policy which are none of our business," Judge Kleinfeld noted that the challenge lacked "judicially discoverable and manageable standards" and required relief based upon resolution of "policy determinations of a kind clearly for nonjudicial discretion." Id. at 710. In short, Judge Kleinfeld asserted that the Ninth Circuit lacked the power to adjudicate the case and noted,

The people of the State of California, through their system of elected representatives, are entitled in our system of federalism to decide how much of their money to put into courts, as well as other activities in which they choose to have their state government participate. The process of deciding how much money to take away from people and transfer to the government, and how to allocate it among the departments of government, is traditionally resolved by political struggle and compromise, not by some theoretical legal principle.

Id.

In this case, plaintiffs' challenges to the juvenile dependency court system necessarily require the court to intrude upon the state's administration of its government, and more specifically, its court system. First, plaintiffs claim that the "crushing and unlawful caseloads" frustrate the ability of the dependency courts to adjudicate cases and "provide children with a meaningful opportunity to be heard." (Compl. ¶ 22) As such, plaintiffs allege that children subject to dependency proceedings in Sacramento County are denied a fair and adequate tribunal in violation of state and federal law. (Id. ¶ 27.) At their core, all of plaintiffs' federal and state law claims arising out of these allegations assert that the current judicial caseload is insufficient for the dependency court judges or referees to "consider carefully what has been provided" or to "serve as a backstop and look out for [the child's] best interest." In order to declare the current caseloads unconstitutional or unlawful, the court would necessarily have to consider, among a host of judicially unmanageable standards, how many cases are constitutionally and/or statutorily permissible, whether each type of case should be weighed evenly, which cases deserve more time or attention, and how much time or attention is constitutionally and/or statutorily permissible. See Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, 979 F.2d at 710 (Kleinfeld, concurring). In order to attempt to mold an appropriate injunctive remedy to address the excess caseloads, the court cannot consider only an augmentation of the dependency court's resources. Rather, the court would also have to consider a myriad of administrative matters that affect the efficiency of the system. Further, in order to enforce any method of injunctive relief, the court would be required to act as a receiver for the Sacramento dependency court system, ensuring that judges were giving adequate time to each individualized case pursuant to the constitutional and/or statutory dictates established through this proceeding. Such involvement in any state institutional system is daunting, but the problems accompanying plaintiffs' requested relief is increased exponentially when applied to a state judicial system. See O'Shea, 414 U.S. at 501, 94 S. Ct. 669 (noting that "periodic reporting" of state judicial officers to a federal court "would constitute a form of monitoring of state court functions that is antipathetic to established principles of comity"); see also Ad Hoc Committee, 488 F.2d at 1244-46.

Second, plaintiffs claim that these overwhelming caseloads prevent children from receiving "the effective, adequate and competent assistance of counsel" in violation of state and federal law. (Compl. ¶¶ 22, 26.) Specifically, plaintiffs allege that the 395 caseload carried by court-appointed counsel in dependency proceedings render them "unable to adequately perform even the minimum tasks required of such counsel under law and in accordance with the American Bar Association's ("ABA") standards." (Compl. ¶ 51.) Similar to plaintiffs' claims regarding excess caseloads in the courts, in order to declare the current attorney caseloads unconstitutional or unlawful, the court would necessarily have to consider through a generalized inquiry how many cases are constitutionally and/or statutorily permissible, whether some types of cases require more investigation or preparation, which types of those cases deserve more resources, and how much time or attention is constitutionally and/or statutorily permissible. Further, in order to mold a remedy to the injury alleged, the court cannot consider only an increased budget for court appointed dependency counsel. Rather, the court must consider whether that money should be directed solely at hiring more attorneys, whether more resources need to be directed to support staff or non-legal resources, the need for larger facilities to house more attorneys or staff, and the quality of the staff or attorneys hired. Finally, in order to enforce injunctive relief that is carefully directed to the problems alleged, the court would have to act as an administrative manager of court-appointed dependency counsel to ensure that any additional resources were being implemented appropriately and that counsel was complying with the constitutional and/or statutory guidelines set forth by the court. See Gardner, 500 F.2d at 714-15.

The facts before the court in this case are readily distinguishable from the facts before the Ninth Circuit in Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n and weigh heavily in favor of finding this case nonjusticiable. In Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, the Ninth Circuit acknowledged that it would be very difficult for courts to determine how much delay was constitutionally permissible in any given case, but concluded that the question presented by the plaintiff was whether the average time to resolution in a case violated its rights. 979 F.2d at 703. However, in this case, plaintiffs do not allege an average amount of time spent on cases by judges or court appointed attorneys to which they object. Rather, they allege that their constitutional rights have been violated based upon their specific, individual circumstances. (See Compl. ¶¶ 59-76.) As such, the case before the Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n court was substantially more manageable than that before the court in this case.

Similarly, in Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, the plaintiff was a single party challenging the facial constitutionality of a statute due to its alleged harmful effect on the plaintiff's litigation. Accordingly, the court could undertake a "case-by-case examination" of the merits of the claim by evaluating whether the average delay deprived it of its ability to vindicate important rights. 979 F.2d at 707. In this case, however, plaintiffs bring claims challenging the practices of a state institution and its officers on behalf of a putative class comprised of all children represented by court-appointed counsel in Sacramento County juvenile dependency proceedings. An ongoing "case-by-case examination" of such a claim would not be just daunting, but virtually impossible. Indeed, to fit within the teachings of Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, the court would have to analyze each of the 5100 juvenile dependency court cases in order to determine whether the lack of time or attention by counsel or the dependency court deprived the minor of the ability to vindicate her rights under the specific circumstances of the case.

Finally, the Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n court placed great emphasis on the nature of the relief sought by the plaintiff; it sought only declaratory, not injunctive relief. While the court noted that it was "not without some trepidation" in exercising declaratory jurisdiction, it stressed that the relief sought would not directly require supervision of the state court system by federal judges. However, in this case, in addition to declaratory relief, plaintiffs seek injunctive relief that would require the court to act as an administrator and receiver of the Sacramento County dependency court system. As such, the holding of Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n is inapplicable to the facts before the court in this case.

In sum, the claims asserted by plaintiffs and the relief requested strike at the very heart of federalism and the institutional competence of the judiciary to adjudicate state budgetary and policy matters. Plaintiffs' claims require the court to set constitutional parameters regarding the function of both state judicial officers and state court appointed attorneys. The adjudication of these claims, which seek to evaluate the relationship between caseloads and fair access to justice for children in a variety of situations, requires the implementation of standards that no court has yet to address. See Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, 979 F.2d at 706 ("Notwithstanding the fundamental rights of access to the courts, [the plaintiff] does not cite, nor has our independent research revealed, any decision recognizing a right to judicial determination of a civil claim within a prescribed period of time."); Ad Hoc Committee, 488 F.2d at 1245 ("To extrapolate from court statistics a picture of those cases where inability to obtain a trial has reached due process is difficult."); cf. Caswell v. Califano, 583 F.2d 9, 16-17 (1st Cir.1978) (holding that where the plaintiffs had a statutory right to hearing within a reasonable time after the request, the district's court imposition of a 90 day period was not an abuse of discretion). Moreover, in adjudicating whether the Sacramento County dependency courts meet sufficient constitutional standards, there is an implicit threat that the failure to provide constitutionally adequate services would result either in a forced reduction of the number of cases brought on behalf of children or the closure of the court itself. See Coleman v. Schwarzenegger, No. Civ 90-0520, No. C01-1351, 2009 WL 2430820 (E.D.Cal. Aug. 4, 2009) (concluding that the only proper relief for prolonged "woefully and unconstitutionally inadequate" medical and mental healthcare in the California prison system was reduction in the overall prisoner population through prisoner release). However, any such implied threat "would amount to little more than a quixotic and unwarranted intrusion into an entire branch of state government." Ad Hoc Committee, 488 F.2d at 1246.

The implementation of any injunctive remedy would require an inquiry into the administration of Sacramento County's dependency court system and the court-appointed attorneys with whom it contracts. It would also require this court to impose it views on the budgeting priorities of the California legislature generally, and specifically on the Judicial Council of California and the Sacramento Superior Court.^[4] The process of allocating state resources lends itself to the legislative process where people have an opportunity to petition the government regarding how their money should be spent and remove from office those political officials who act contrary to the wishes of the majority. "The judicial process does not share these democratic virtues." Los Angeles County Bar Ass'n, 979 F.2d at 710 (Kleinfeld, concurring). If the court granted plaintiffs' request, it would result in a command to the state to take money from its citizens, in the form of taxes, or from other governmental functions, in order to put more money in the Sacramento County juvenile dependency court system.^[5] While numerous parties, including the dependency courts would likely appreciate the influx of resources, such an award, implicating the balance of budget priorities and state polices, is beyond the institutional competence of a federal court. Rather, such injunctive relief constitutes an "abrasive and unmanageable intercession" in state court institutions.^[6]See O'Shea, 414 U.S. at 504, 94 S. Ct. 669.

Therefore, the court concludes that principles of equity, comity, and federalism require the court to equitably abstain from adjudicating plaintiffs' claims.

2. Younger Abstention

Generally, the Supreme Court's decision in Younger and its progeny direct federal courts to abstain from granting injunctive or declaratory relief that would interfere with pending state judicial proceedings. Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 40-41, 91 S. Ct. 746 27 L. Ed. 2d 669 (1971); Samuels v. Mackell, 401 U.S. 66, 73, 91 S. Ct. 764, 27 L. Ed. 2d 688 (1971) (holding that "where an injunction would be impermissible under these principles, declaratory relief should ordinarily be denied as well"). The Younger doctrine "reflects a strong policy against federal intervention in state judicial processes in the absence of great and immediate injury to the federal plaintiff." Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415, 423, 99 S. Ct. 2371, 60 L. Ed. 2d 994 (1979). When federal courts disrupt a state court's opportunity to "intelligently mediate federal constitutional concerns and state interests" and interject themselves into such disputes, "they prevent the informed evolution of state policy by state tribunals." Moore, 442 U.S. at 429-30, 99 S. Ct. 2371.

While the doctrine was first articulated in the context of pending state criminal proceedings, the Supreme Court has applied it to civil proceedings in which important state interests are involved. Id.; see Huffman v. Pursue, Ltd., 420 U.S. 592, 95 S. Ct. 1200, 43 L. Ed. 2d 482 (1975). "The seriousness of federal judicial interference with state civil functions has long been recognized by the Court. [It has] consistently required that when federal courts are confronted with requests for such relief, they should abide by standards of restraint that go well beyond those of private equity jurisprudence." Huffman, 420 U.S. at 603, 95 S. Ct. 1200.

Therefore, in the absence of "extraordinary circumstances,"^[7] abstention in favor of state judicial proceedings is required if the state proceedings (1) are ongoing, (2) implicate important state interests, and (3) provide the plaintiff an adequate opportunity to litigate federal claims. See Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 U.S. 423, 432, 102 S. Ct. 2515, 73 L. Ed. 2d 116 (1982); see San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Comm. v. City of San Jose, 546 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir.2008) (noting that where these standards are met, a district court "may not exercise jurisdiction" and that "there is no discretion in the district courts to do otherwise"). "Where Younger abstention is appropriate, a district court cannot refuse to abstain, retain jurisdiction over the action, and render a decision on the merits after the state proceedings have ended. To the contrary, Younger abstention requires dismissal of the federal action." Beltran v. State of Cal, 871 F.2d 777, 782 (9th Cir.1988) (emphasis in original).

The Supreme Court has held that Younger abstention is appropriately applied to broad challenges to state dependency proceedings. Moore, 442 U.S. 415, 99 S. Ct. 2371. In Moore, the appellees, husband and wife and their three minor children, sought a declaration that parts of the Texas Family Code unconstitutionally infringed upon family integrity after a juvenile court judge entered an emergency ex parte order that gave temporary custody of the children to the State Department of Public Welfare. Id. at 419-20, 99 S. Ct. 2371. The appellees moved to terminate the temporary custody. Id. at 420, 99 S. Ct. 2371. However, instead of moving to expedite the hearing in the county court, requesting an early hearing from state trial or appellate courts, or appealing the temporary order, appellees filed an action challenging the constitutionality of the relevant state statutes in federal court. Id. at 421, 99 S. Ct. 2371. The Court first concluded that there were ongoing state proceedings, even though not all of the appellee's claims directly related to the custody determination. Specifically, the Court held that the appellee's challenge to the State's computerized collection and dissemination of child-abuse information could be raised in the state court proceedings. Id. at 424-25, 99 S. Ct. 2371. That the appellee's challenges constituted a "multifaceted" and broad challenge to a state statutory scheme "militated in favor of abstention, not against it." Id. at 427, 99 S. Ct. 2371. Second, the Court concluded that challenges to the state juvenile dependency system implicated an important state concern. Id. at 435, 99 S. Ct. 2371 ("Family relations are a traditional area of state concern."). Finally, the Court held that because state procedural law did not bar presentation of the constitutional claims in the dependancy court proceedings, the appellees had an adequate state court avenue for relief. In conclusion, the Court noted that it was "unwilling to conclude that state processes are unequal to the task of accommodating the various interests and deciding the constitutional questions that may arise in child-welfare litigation." Id. at 435, 99 S. Ct. 2371.

a. Interference with Ongoing State Proceedings

Plaintiffs first contend that there are no ongoing state proceedings where plaintiffs' or class members' claims are currently being adjudicated. Specifically, plaintiffs assert that none of the constitutional claims asserted in this action have been asserted in the underlying dependency court cases upon which they are based. Further, plaintiffs contend that the constitutional and statutory claims alleged in this litigation will not interfere with ongoing state proceedings for the purposes of the Younger analysis.

Courts have concluded that continuing state dependency proceedings, which involve the plaintiffs in a federal action that challenges the constitutionality of the services and process received, are "ongoing state proceedings" for purposes of Younger abstention. See 31 Foster Children v. Bush, 329 F.3d 1255, 1275 (11th Cir.2003); H.C. ex rel. Gordon v. Koppel, 203 F.3d 610, 613 (9th Cir.2000) (holding that the ongoing proceeding element was satisfied because the plaintiffs' complaint sought "an order requiring procedural due process to be observed in the future course of litigation" of the plaintiffs' pending state custody proceedings); J.B. ex rel. Hart v. Valdez, 186 F.3d 1280, 1291 (10th Cir.1999); Laurie Q. v. Contra Costa County, 304 F. Supp. 2d 1185, 1203 (N.D.Cal.2004) (holding that challenge to county's foster care system implicated ongoing dependency court proceedings); see also Moore, 442 U.S. at 425-27, 99 S. Ct. 2371; cf. Lake v. Speziale, 580 F.Supp. 1318, 1329 (D.Conn.1984) (holding that Younger abstention did not apply in the absence of any pending state court proceeding); Johnson v. Solomon, 484 F. Supp. 278, 295-97 (D.Md.1979) (same). However, Younger abstention is only implicated "when the relief sought in federal court would in some manner directly `interfere' with ongoing state judicial proceedings." Green v. City of Tucson, 255 F.3d 1086, 1097 (9th Cir.2001) (en banc) receded from on other grounds by Gilbertson v. Albright, 381 F.3d 965 (9th Cir. 2004). "The mere potential for conflict in the results of adjudications is not the kind of interference that merits federal court abstention." Id. (internal quotations and citation omitted). Rather, the system of dual sovereigns inherently contemplates the possibility of a "race to judgment." Id. "In order to decide whether the federal proceeding would interfere with the state proceeding, [courts] look to the relief requested and the effect it would have on the state proceedings." 31 Foster Children, 329 F.3d at 1276; see also O'Shea, 414 U.S. at 500, 94 S. Ct. 669 (holding that abstention was proper where the proposed injunction would indirectly accomplish the same kind of interference that Younger and subsequent cases sought to prevent).

The Eleventh Circuit has held that an action for declaratory and injunctive relief arising out of challenges to Florida's foster care system would interfere extensively with the ongoing dependency cases of each plaintiff. 31 Foster Children, 329 F.3d at 1279. In 31 Foster Children, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants' practices denied and threatened their rights, inter alia, to (1) substantive due process for "safe care that meet their basic needs, prompt placements with permanent families, and services extended after their eighteenth birthdays"; (2) "procedural due process in determining the services they will receive"; (3) familial association with their siblings; and (4) prompt placement with permanent families and information provided pursuant to the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act. Id. at 1261. The plaintiffs requested that the court declare the defendants' practices unconstitutional and unlawful and grant injunctive relief that would prevent future violations and ensure compliance. Id. The Eleventh Circuit held that the declaratory judgment and injunction requested would interfere with the pending state proceedings in numerous ways, including potential conflicting orders regarding what is best for a particular plaintiff, whether a particular placement is safe or appropriate, whether sufficient efforts are being made to find an adoptive family, or whether an amendment needs to be made to a child's plan. Id. at 1278. The court concluded that the broad implication of the relief sought was to take the responsibility away from state courts and put it under control of the federal court. Id. at 1279. Such action "constitute[d] federal court oversight of state court operations, even if not framed as direct review of state court judgments that is problematic, calling for Younger abstention." Id.

Similarly, the Tenth Circuit has held that declaratory and injunctive relief directed at state institutions involving dependant children warranted abstention because the requested relief would require a supervisory role over the entire state program. J.B. ex rel. Hart v. Valdez, 186 F.3d 1280; see Joseph A. v. Ingram, 275 F.3d 1253 (10th Cir.2002). In J.B., the plaintiffs, mentally or developmentally disabled children in the custody of New Mexico, alleged constitutional and statutory violations arising out of the failure to provide them with services, benefits, and protections in custody determinations and treatment plans. 186 F.3d at 1282-85. The court held that the federal action would fundamentally change the dispositions and oversight of the children because, by ruling on the lawfulness of the defendant's action, the requested declaratory and injunctive relief would place the federal court in the role of making dispositional decisions in the plaintiff's individual cases that were reserved to the New Mexico Children's Court. Id. at 1292-93. Therefore, the court concluded that, for purposes of Younger abstention, the federal court interfered with the ongoing state court proceedings.

In Joseph A., the Tenth Circuit likewise concluded that Younger abstention was implicated by the broad relief implicated by a consent decree relating to the procedures to be accorded children in the state's custody. 275 F.3d 1253. The plaintiffs, children in New Mexico's custody due to abuse or neglect, and the New Mexico Department of Human Services had entered into a federal court consent decree, and the plaintiffs subsequently moved the court to hold the Department in contempt for allegedly violating that consent decree. Id. at 1257. The court held that enforcement of the consent decree would require "interference with the operations of the Children's Court in an insidious way," in that the consent decree operated like that of an injunction or declaratory judgment that precluded the presentation of certain options to the Children's Court. Id. at 1268-69. Further, the consent decree's restrictions were ongoing, impacting the conduct of the proceedings themselves, not just the body charged with initiating the proceedings. Id. at 1269. Accordingly, the court concluded that "Younger governs whenever the requested relief would interfere with the state court's ability to conduct proceedings, regardless of whether the relief targets the conduct of the proceeding directly." Id. at 1272.

In this case, plaintiffs seek a declaration that the judicial and attorney caseloads are so excessive that they constitute a violation of constitutional and statutory rights. In their complaint, plaintiffs request that defendants be enjoined from currently and continually violating their constitutional and statutory rights and that defendants provide additional resources to reach recommended caseloads for attorneys. At oral argument, plaintiffs clarified that they also sought the appointment of more judges in order to ease judicial caseloads. (Tr. at 31.)

Plaintiffs contend that at this stage of the litigation, the court need not contemplate the precise remedy available to plaintiffs if they prevail on the merits; rather the court should presume that it is possible to "issue an order that avoids Younger and conforms to the Court's sound discretion and proof at trial." (Pls.' Opp'n at 23.) However, this contention runs counter to the Court's explanation of the appropriate inquiry regarding justiciability as set forth in O'Shea:

[T]he question arises of how compliance might be enforced if the beneficiaries of the injunction were to charge that it had been disobeyed. Presumably any member of respondent's class who appeared... before petitioners could allege and have adjudicated a claim that petitioner's were in contempt of the federal court's injunction order, with a review of an adverse decision in the Court of Appeals and, perhaps in [the Supreme Court].

414 U.S. at 501-02, 94 S. Ct. 669. Further, in evaluating whether Younger abstention applied to the plaintiffs' challenges to the adequacy of Georgia's indigent court system, the Eleventh Circuit looked to the Supreme Court's analysis in O'Shea, and reasoned that consideration of the remedies available is necessary at the outset of the litigation because "[i]t would certainly create an awkward moment if, at the end of protracted litigation, a compliance problem arose which would force abstention on the same ground that existed prior to trial." Luckey v. Miller, 976 F.2d 673, 679 (11th Cir.1992). The court agrees.

The relief requested by plaintiffs in this case would necessarily interfere with their ongoing dependency court cases and those of the putative class. The requested declaratory relief calls into question the validity of every decision made in pending and future dependency court cases before the resolution of this litigation. Specifically, plaintiffs seek a finding that the number of lawyers currently provided are insufficient to perform the enumerated duties that they are required to perform under both state and federal law. Plaintiffs similarly seek a finding that they have not been granted meaningful access to the courts or appropriate consideration of their matters due to judicial caseloads. While plaintiffs contend that each individual plaintiff would still have to demonstrate prejudice in order to invalidate the decision rendered in each pending case,^[8] the court cannot overlook the practical impact of the proposed declaratory relief on the 5,100 active dependency court cases; this court's order would substantiate a finding of a constitutional or statutory violation in every one of those active cases. Even if not determinative in every instance, this finding would impact each of the putative class member's cases. See Luckey, 976 F.2d at 679 ("[L]aying the groundwork for a future request for more detailed relief which would violate the comity principles expressed in Younger and O'Shea is the precise exercise forbidden under the abstention doctrine."); Gardner, 500 F.2d at 714 (noting that abstention was applicable to the plaintiffs' challenges to operation of the Florida state public defender offices "to the extent the complaint alleged present and continuing constitutional deprivations due to the representation appellants were receiving in pending state appeals proceedings"); see also Kaufman v. Kaye, 466 F.3d 83, 86-87 (2d Cir.2006) (holding that requested declaratory relief in challenged assignment procedures in New York court system interfered with ongoing administration of the court system because the court could not resolve the issues raised without resolving the same issues as to the subsequent remedy chosen by the state).

Further, the broad and ill-defined injunctive relief requested by plaintiffs would impact the conduct of the proceeding themselves, not just the body charged with initiating the proceedings. See Joseph A., 275 F.3d at 1269. If the court finds constitutional or statutory violations based upon the amount of time or resources spent on juvenile dependency court cases, an injunction directed to remedying those violations would require the court to ensure that in each case the child was receiving certain services or procedures that the court has declared constitutional. Enforcement could not simply end with a policy directive to the Judicial Council, the AOC, or the Sacramento Superior Court, but would require monitoring of its administration.

Indeed, plaintiff contemplates such relief, as illustrated by their submission of a consent decree in a Northern District of Georgia case, Kenny A. v. Perdue, 218 F.R.D. 277 (N.D.Ga.2003) which they contend demonstrates a "straightforward, easily enforceable" remedy. (Pls.' Supplemental Opp'n, filed Nov. 22, 2009, at 4.) Specifically, the proffered consent decree requires that defendants ensure that Child Advocate Attorneys have a maximum caseload and that the County will hire a specified number of additional attorneys within certain time periods. (Ex. A. to Decl. of Jonathan M. Cohen ("Consent Decree"), filed Nov. 20, 2009, at 3-4.) The decree also requires that defendants provide documents and information to a "Compliance Agent" regarding the caseload and number of attorneys, training and CLE records for those attorneys, performance reviews and evaluations for those attorneys, and complaints of inadequate and ineffective legal representation. (Id. at 4-5.) The appointed "Compliance Agent" is then responsible for undertaking an independent fact-finding review of the parties' obligations, issuing a "Compliance Report," and reviewing or reporting any curative plans. (Id. at 6.) The Compliance Report must then be filed in federal court. (Id. at 7.) Pursuant to certain requirements, the parties could challenge non-compliance and seek enforcement of the decree in federal court. (Id. at 8-9.)

The court disagrees with plaintiffs' characterization that such a decree is straight-forward and easily enforceable. First, the court has grave concerns about both the effectiveness and the enforceability of the relief accorded. In this case, plaintiffs allege violations arising from excessive caseloads of both attorneys and judicial officers/judges and request injunctive relief aimed at both of these problems. An order providing for the allocation of more attorneys and judges to the dependency court system and maximum caseloads presumes that such measures would redress the problems of inadequate representation as alleged in the complaint, which ignores other issues of administrative efficiencies, resource management, and possible physical constraints that are implicated by plaintiffs' claims. However, assuming arguendo, that plaintiffs could support this presumption through proof, the question remains how the court would enforce such an order. Should the court order that court-appointed representation cannot be granted if attorney caseloads exceed the mandated maximum? Should the court suspend dependency court proceedings until defendants are able to hire adequately trained attorneys to represent children in these proceedings? Should the court order that dependency court judicial officers/judges simply should decline to hear cases that would require them to exceed their maximum caseload? If state courts refuse to comply with the court's maximum caseload requirements, should the federal court impose sanctions on the state court judge or officials for contempt? Would the court hold the Chair of the Judicial Council or the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento County in contempt for noncompliance due to state budgetary limitations?^[9] These questions necessarily implicate the importance of the state's interest in adjudicating these matters and the ability of the court to enforce its own orders without violating well-established principles of federalism and comity. See Joseph A., 275 F.3d at 1267-72 (holding that litigation to enforce consent decree raised Younger abstention issues); see also Laurie Q., 304 F.Supp.2d at 1204-05 (holding that in order to cure the juvenile court's alleged failure to review case plans in a timely fashion, the court would be compelled "to either spur the Juvenile court by injunction, or even take the matter completely out of its hands" and thus, engage in the type of interference criticized by the Ninth Circuit in City of Tucson, 255 F.3d 1086).

Second, the proffered periodic reporting requirements, standing alone, "constitute a form of monitoring of the operation of state court functions that is antipathetic to established principles of comity." O'Shea, 414 U.S. at 501, 94 S. Ct. 669. The Supreme Court has explicitly disapproved of an injunction aimed at controlling or preventing the occurrence of specific events in future state proceedings because it would require "the continuous supervision by the federal court over the conduct [of defendants] in the course of future ... proceedings involving any members of the ... broadly defined class." Id. While the reporting requirements may not impose an undue burden in their creation, the underlying question is whether a federal court should order such reports at all. See Luckey, 976 F.2d at 678 n. 4; see also Anthony v. Council, 316 F.3d 412, 421 (3d Cir.2003) (abstaining under Younger where federal relief would disrupt the New Jersey court system and lead to federal monitoring). The principles underlying both O'Shea and Younger persuade the court that it should not.

Further, the court finds plaintiffs' reliance on the reasoning of Kenny A. unpersuasive. See 218 F.R.D. 277. As an initial matter, the facts considered by the Kenny A. court relating to interference with ongoing state proceeding are different from the facts that must be considered by the court in this case. In Kenny A., nine foster children in the custody of the Georgia Department of Human Resources filed a putative class action in state court against the Governor of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Human Resources and its Commissioner, the counties' Department of Family and Children Services and their Directors, and the counties. 218 F.R.D. at 283-84. Defendants removed the case to federal court, where they asserted that the court should refrain from exercising jurisdiction pursuant to Younger. Id. at 284-85. The court held that defendants waived their right to raise Younger abstention by removing the case to federal court; accordingly, the court's cursory analysis of the applicability of Younger abstention is merely dicta. Id. at 285. However, the court reasoned that the federal action would not interfere with the juvenile proceedings because the declaratory and injunctive relief was not directed at the plaintiffs' review hearings, at Georgia's juvenile courts, juvenile court judges, or juvenile court personnel. Id. at 286. Rather, the court emphasized that plaintiffs' alleged violations arose out of the (1) excessive numbers of cases assigned to inadequately trained and poorly supervised case workers (not lawyers); (2) failure to identify and develop a sufficient number of foster homes; (3) failure to identify adult relatives who could care for plaintiffs; (4) failure to provide relevant information and support services to foster parents; (5) failure to develop administrative controls; (6) failure to provide timely and appropriate permanency planning; (7) placement in dangerous, unsanitary, and inappropriate homes; (8) failure to provide appropriate mental health, medical, and educational services; and (9) separation of teenage mothers in foster care from their own children. Id. The court held that remedying these failures would not interfere in any way with ongoing juvenile court proceedings. Id.

Conversely, in this case, plaintiffs' claims are directed at the fairness and efficacy of the dependency courts and counsel arising out of excessive caseloads. As such, unlike the court's characterization of the claims in Kenny A., plaintiffs' requested declaratory and injunctive relief is directed at the plaintiffs' review hearings, Sacramento County's juvenile courts, juvenile court judges, and juvenile court personnel. See Joseph A., 275 F.3d at 1272 (noting that injunctive relief directed at attorneys, rather than at the court directly, does not preclude Younger's application because the same underlying principles apply to officers of the court).

Moreover, the court notes that the Kenny A. court's analysis failed to address issues that the Supreme Court and other Circuit courts have found important to the applicability of the first element of Younger abstention. Specifically, while the Kenny A. court noted that plaintiffs challenged excessive caseloads in its analysis of whether there was an adequate opportunity to raise federal claims, the court notably omitted this allegation from its analysis of potential interference with state court proceedings. See id. at 286-89. The court's focus on non-lawyers and non-judicial actors in the determination of whether the federal court would interfere with on-going state proceedings avoided a pivotal issue of whether an analysis of the constitutionality and lawfulness of allegedly excessive caseloads would interfere with ongoing state court proceedings. See Luckey, 976 F.2d at 679.

In sum, the court concludes that the declaratory and injunctive relief requested by plaintiffs severely interferes with the operation of state court proceedings. Any declaratory relief necessarily implicates the validity of pending dependency court proceedings, even if such findings are not wholly determinative. Further, the requested injunctive relief would be impossible to enforce without violation of established principles of federalism and comity. Accordingly, the first element of Younger abstention is present in this case.

b. Important State Interests

The parties do not dispute that this litigation implicates important state interests in the care, placement, and welfare of children in the Sacramento County dependency court system. Indeed, the law is clear that "[f]amily relations are a traditional area of state concern." Moore, 442 U.S. at 435, 99 S. Ct. 2371. Further, "[p]roceedings necessary for the vindication of important state policies or for the functioning of the state judicial system ... evidence the state's substantial interest in the litigation." Middlesex County Ethics Comm., 457 U.S. at 432, 102 S. Ct. 2515. Accordingly, the second element of Younger abstention is present in this case.

c. Adequate Opportunity to Present Federal Claims

Plaintiffs contend that there is no adequate opportunity to present their federal claims in the pending state court dependency proceedings. Specifically, plaintiffs contend that they "would be unable to get a fair hearing in state court because the [d]efendants employ the state court judges." (Pls.' Opp'n at 21). Plaintiffs also contend that, as a practical matter, they cannot press their constitutional claims in dependency court because the system is overburdened.

"Minimal respect for state processes, of course, precludes any presumption that the state court will not safeguard federal constitutional rights." Middlesex County Ethics Comm., 457 U.S. at 431, 102 S. Ct. 2515. Rather, a federal court "should assume that state procedures will afford an adequate remedy, in the absence of unambiguous authority to the contrary." Pennzoil Co. v. Texaco, Inc., 481 U.S. 1, 15, 107 S. Ct. 1519, 95 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1987). As such, a plaintiff opposing abstention bears the burden of establishing that the pending state proceedings do not provide an adequate remedy for their federal claims. 31 Foster Children, 329 F.3d at 1279.

"Where vital state interests are involved, a federal court should abstain `unless state law clearly bars the interposition of the constitutional claims.'" Middlesex County Ethics Comm., 457 U.S. at 423, 102 S. Ct. 2515 (quoting Moore, 442 U.S. at 423, 99 S. Ct. 2371); Hirsh v. Justices of Supreme Court of Cal., 67 F.3d 708, 713 (9th Cir.1995) ("Judicial review is inadequate only when state procedural law bars presentation of the federal claims."). "The pertinent inquiry is whether the state proceedings afford an adequate opportunity to raise the constitutional claims." Id. (internal quotations omitted). A federal court "should not exert jurisdiction if the plaintiffs `had an opportunity to present their federal claims in the state proceedings.'" Id. at 425, 102 S. Ct. 2515 (quoting Juidice v. Vail, 430 U.S. 327, 337, 97 S. Ct. 1211, 51 L. Ed. 2d 376 (1977)) (emphasis in original). The fact that judicial review is discretionary or that the clams may be raised only in state court review of administrative proceedings does not amount to a procedural bar. Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 713 (discretionary judicial review of the Bar Court's decision provided adequate opportunity for judicial review); Beltran, 871 F.2d at 783 (state appellate court review of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board's decision provided adequate opportunity to raise constitutional claim).

California courts have explicitly held that juvenile courts can hear constitutional claims relating to the deficient representation of counsel arising out of the unavailability of adequate time and resources to represent a minor. In re Edward S., 173 Cal. App. 4th 387, 407-10, 92 Cal. Rptr. 3d 725 (1st Dist.2009); see In re Darlice C., 105 Cal. App. 4th 459, 463, 129 Cal. Rptr. 2d 472 (3d Dist.2003) ("Where, as here, the juvenile court has ordered parental rights terminated, a parent has the right to seek review of claims of incompetent assistance of counsel."); Laurie Q., 304 F.Supp.2d at 1206 ("California law has conferred upon the Juvenile Court the sweeping power to address nearly any type of deficiency in the care of a minor and order nearly any type of relief."). Indeed, at least one California court has noted, that it is the "paramount responsibility of a judicial officer to assure the provision of a fair trial" and that a continuance of pending proceedings or other adequate relief is justified where there is "an adequate showing that an [attorney's] excessive caseload and the limited resources [available to him] made it impossible ... to adequately represent" his client. Id.; see also 31 Foster Children, 329 F.3d at 1279 (holding that available remedies were adequate because the juvenile court can act to protect children within its jurisdiction); J.B., 186 F.3d at 1292-93 (holding that because the juvenile court was a court of general jurisdiction under state law, the plaintiffs had not provided "unambiguous authority" that state courts could not provide an adequate remedy); Joseph A., 275 F.3d at 1274 (holding that dismissal of a federal claim in dicta from a state court opinion was insufficient to overcome the presumption that state relief was available).

In this case, plaintiffs have failed to overcome the presumption that their pending state court proceedings provide an adequate opportunity for judicial review of their federal claims. Rather, California law explicitly provides recourse through the state court system for the federal claims raised in this litigation. At oral argument, plaintiffs conceded that the state dependency courts can entertain the type of federal claims brought in this litigation. (Tr. of Nov. 6, 2009 Hr'g ("Tr.") at 43.) Further, under California law, one of the paramount responsibilities of state judicial officers is the assurance that parties are provided with a fair trial. Therefore, plaintiffs have an alternative adequate opportunity to press their federal claims.

Plaintiff's reliance on the D.C. Circuit's decision in LaShawn A. v. Kelly, is misplaced. 990 F.2d 1319 (D.C.Cir.1993.) In LaShawn A., the plaintiffs brought a child welfare class action against the defendants based upon alleged constitutional and statutory violations arising from "ineptness and indifference, inordinate caseloads, and insufficient funds." Id. at 1320. In rejecting the applicability of Younger abstention, the court noted that the District of Columbia Family Division had "explicitly rejected the use of review hearings to adjudge claims requesting broad-based injunctive relief based on federal law." Id. at 1323. Accordingly, there was no alternative avenue for relief for the plaintiffs. However, as set forth above, in this case it is undisputed that state courts can entertain the type of federal claims brought in this litigation. As such, there is no procedural bar as was before the LaShawn A. court.^[10]

Accordingly, the third element of Younger abstention is met in this case.

d. Exceptions to Abstention

Finally, plaintiffs contend that abstention is unwarranted because the judicial state officer or other state judge responsible for deciding their claims "would be placed in the position of having to rule against either the Honorable Presiding Judge in their own County or against the remaining [d]efendants ... who establish policy governing their jobs. (Pls.' Opp'n at 28.)

"Although a federal court is normally required to abstain if the three prongs of the Younger test are satisfied, abstention is inappropriate in the `extraordinary circumstance' that the state tribunal is incompetent by reason of bias." Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 713 (citing Gibson v. Berryhill, 411 U.S. 564, 577-79, 93 S. Ct. 1689, 36 L. Ed. 2d 488 (1973)). "Bias exists were a court has prejudged, or reasonably appears to have prejudged, an issue." Kenneally v. Lungren, 967 F.2d 329, 333 (9th Cir.1992).

The party alleging bias "must overcome a presumption of honesty and integrity in those serving as adjudicators." Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 714. (internal quotations and citations omitted). Where there is an absence of any personal or financial stake in the outcome sufficient to create a conflict of interest and where there is a lack of personal animosity towards the parties in the proceedings, the presumption is not overcome. Vanelli v. Reynolds Sch. Dist. No. 7, 667 F.2d 773, 779-80 n. 10 (9th Cir.1982). The Supreme Court has held that a plaintiff did not sufficiently demonstrate bias when a state medical board adjudicated the merits of a disciplinary action in which the board itself investigated and filed charges. Withrow v. Larkin, 421 U.S. 35, 47, 95 S. Ct. 1456, 43 L. Ed. 2d 712 (1975). The Court has also concluded that a state board's prior involvement in a labor dispute with striking teachers did not prevent it from deciding whether those teachers should be dismissed as a result of that unlawful strike. Hortonville Joint Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Hortonville Educ. Ass'n, 426 U.S. 482, 497, 96 S. Ct. 2308, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1976); see also Vanelli, 667 F.2d at 779-80 (holding that a school board reviewing its own prior decision was not impermissibly biased). Similarly the Ninth Circuit has held that judges are not incompetent to review findings of judicial officers whom they participate in appointing. Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 714. The Ninth Circuit has also held that fines imposed by a disciplinary board, which are paid to the same entity that pays the salaries of the disciplinary board, is insufficient to establish bias. Id.

Plaintiffs' conclusory and astonishing assertions that all state court judges are biased in this matter is unsupported by law or facts. Plaintiffs have not submitted any allegations or argument that all state court judges and judicial officers have a personal or financial stake in the litigation. Nor have plaintiffs proffered any allegations or arguments relating to any judge's personal animosity against them. While plaintiffs contend, without any legal authority for support, that defendants control policy decisions that may impact state judges, such a broad and ambiguous contention does not come close to surpassing the factual circumstances in which the Ninth Circuit has held the presumption of bias was not overcome. As such, plaintiffs' conclusory assertions are insufficient to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.

Therefore, because plaintiffs' claims would interfere with ongoing state dependency court proceedings that implicate important state interests, plaintiffs have an adequate opportunity to pursue their federal claims in those proceedings, and they have failed to overcome the presumption of honesty and integrity in those serving as adjudicators, the court must abstain from adjudicating these claims pursuant to Younger v. Harris.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the court again acknowledges that plaintiffs' claims present a troubling depiction of the state of Sacramento County's dependency court system. The facts alleged relative to the named minor plaintiffs demonstrate a serious lack of responsiveness by the state's current system to the needs of children. However, to remedy these wrongs, this court must reallocate state financial resources, reorder state legislative priorities, and revise state judicial policies. This proposed federal judicial takeover of these functions of state government not only strikes at the core principles of federalism and comity, but assumes an institutional competence that a federal district court simply does not possess.

Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

NOTES

[1] The Honorable Ronald M. George is the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

[2] Defendants also contend that plaintiffs lack standing to bring their claims. Defendants' arguments relating to abstention and standing relate to whether plaintiffs' claims are properly before the court and within the confines of the judicial authority conferred by Article III. Indeed, assuming that plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged injury in fact and causation, the court's conclusions relating to its ability to redress such injury, as set forth infra, "obviously shade into those determining whether the complaint" sufficiently presents a real case or controversy for purposes of standing. O'Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488, 499, 94 S. Ct. 669, 38 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1974).

[3] While a majority of decisions have applied equitable abstention in the context of cases involving injunctions in criminal cases, the Court has noted that the doctrine "has not been limited to that situation or indeed to a criminal proceeding itself." Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 380, 96 S. Ct. 598, 46 L. Ed. 2d 561 (1976). Rather, the same principles apply to civil proceedings and to cases where injunctive relief is sought against those in charge of an executive branch of an agency of state or local governments. Id.

The court also notes that while there is significant crossover between the fundamental principles and factors considered in the doctrines of equitable abstention and Younger abstention, the Supreme Court and Circuit decisions addressing equitable abstention reflect differences that justify separate treatment of these two doctrines.

[4] Indeed, plaintiffs argue that "[d]efendants spend hundreds of millions for other priorities even as they assert poverty when it comes to addressing the caseload-caused anguish their own meticulous study certifies and decries." (Pls.'s Supp. Brief [Docket # 35], filed Nov. 20, 2009.) At oral argument, plaintiff's counsel asserted the AOC spent approximately a billion and a half dollars on a new management system and has contracted to build new courthouses, implying that money to fund relief in this case could be reallocated from those or similar projects. (Tr. at 29.)

[5] Moreover, unless the Superior Court of California were awarded more judges overall, this court's order would necessarily implicate state policy decisions regarding how many judges to appoint in particular departments.

[6] Further, the court notes, as set forth, infra, in the court's discussion of Younger abstention, plaintiffs have an alternative, available avenue of relief.

[7] In Moore, the Supreme Court held that dependency proceedings do not, without more, constitute such an extraordinary circumstance. 442 U.S. at 434, 99 S. Ct. 2371 ("Unless we were to hold that every attachment issued to protect a child creates great, immediate, and irreparable harm warranting federal-court intervention, we are hard pressed to conclude that ... federal intervention was warranted.").

[8] The court notes that plaintiffs' contention is incongruous with their allegations and arguments relating to injury. The named minor plaintiffs allege that the excessive judicial and attorney caseloads prevented them from receiving services or process. A finding in favor of the named plaintiffs would directly affect the proceedings of those plaintiffs.

[9] See Luckey, 976 F.2d at 679 ("Avoidance of this unseemly conflict between state and federal judges is one reason for O'Shea and Younger.")

[10] Plaintiffs' reliance on Kenny A. is similarly misplaced as the Northern District of Georgia explicitly found that the juvenile court lacked the power to grant the relief requested by the plaintiffs. 218 F.R.D. at 287. Further, the Kenny A. court's alternative rationale, that the plaintiffs "are dependent upon an allegedly overburdened and inadequate system of legal representation, which prevents them from raising their claims in the juvenile court," is contrary to Ninth Circuit precedent, which, as set forth above, provides that judicial review is inadequate "only where there is a procedural bar to the presentation of federal claims." See Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 713.

The court is not dispassionate regarding the obstacles facing plaintiffs. However, their arguments regarding the practical impediments to judicial review run counter to explicit Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit authority on this issue. See Pennzoil, 481 U.S. at 15, 107 S. Ct. 1519 ("[W]hen a litigant has not attempted to present his federal claims in related state-court proceedings, a federal court should assume that state procedures will afford an adequate remedy, in the absence of unambiguous authority to the contrary."); Hirsh, 67 F.3d at 713. Neither the Supreme Court nor the Ninth Circuit has held that practical impediments may amount to a procedural bar for purposes of Younger abstention; nor did the Kenny A. court cite any legal authority for its novel rationale. 218 F.R.D. at 287.