IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
In re the Dependency of: ) No. 71266-7-1
K.L.D. (DOB: 4/7/03), A.Z.D. (DOB: ) (Consolidated with Nos.
5/5/04), and C.K.D. (DOB: 11/21/05), ) 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-1)
Minor Children. ) DIVISION ONE 1-0
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C/iO
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND en o-n
HEALTH SERVICES, :--or
Respondent, £>°
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--la
ASHLEY TODD, ) UNPUBLISHED
Appellant. ) FILED: August 11, 2014
Cox, J. - "A parent has a right to a meaningful opportunity to be heard at a
hearing to terminate parental rights."1 Here, Ashley Todd, who was in Idaho and
had outstanding warrants in Washington, chose not to attend the termination
hearing in person in Snohomish County. The trial court denied her motion to
testify by telephone. Because the denial did not deny her due process of law, we
affirm.
1 In re Dependency of M.S., 98 Wn. App. 91, 92, 94, 988 P.2d 488 (1999)
(citing RCW 13.34.090(1) ("Any party has a right to be represented by an
attorney in all proceedings under this chapter, to introduce evidence, to be heard
in his or her own behalf, to examine witnesses, to receive a decision based solely
on the evidence adduced at the hearing, and to an unbiased fact finder.")).
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/2
The unchallenged findings of fact provide context and are verities on
appeal.2
K.L.D., A.Z.D., and C.K.D. are the biological children of Ashley Todd and
Curtis Drakeford. The State removed the children from their parent's custody in
November 2010. They were returned to Todd's care two times before she and
Drakeford absconded with the children out of state in June 2012. The children
were located with their parents in Montana.
After this incident, the State removed the children from their parents' care
and did not return them to either parent. Todd, who had previously engaged in
support services and parenting classes, stopped engaging in these services after
the incident and had no in-person contact with the children.
The Department of Social and Health Services petitioned for termination of
the parent-child relationship against both parents in October 2012. The parents
were personally served with the petition. Additionally, the State notified the
parents that they would need to attend the termination trial, so that it could take
their testimony.
On the first day of the termination trial, the parents were not present.
Counsel moved to allow Drakeford to appear and testify by telephone. Drakeford
was not present because he was in California and had outstanding warrants in
Washington.
2 In re Dependency of J.A.F.. 168 Wn. App. 653, 667, 278 P.3d 673
(2012).
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/3
Todd's counsel joined this motion. Her counsel explained that Todd was
in Idaho and also had outstanding warrants in Washington. The court denied the
motion, and the case proceeded to trial.
After a multiple-day trial, the court ordered termination of the parent-child
relationship for both parents.
Only Todd appeals.
DUE PROCESS
Todd argues that her procedural due process rights were violated when
the trial court terminated her parental rights without allowing her to testify at trial
by telephone. We disagree.
Under CR 43, testimony of witnesses is generally taken orally in open
court. But "[f]or good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate
safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous
transmission from a different location."3 The plain words of this rule make the
determination by the court discretionary.
Here, the trial court gave the following explanation when it denied Todd's
motion to appear by telephone:
Termination trials are some of the hardest venues for this
Court to exercise its judgment in. I rely upon the parties being
present so I can view them, watch them, listen to them and make
determinations of credibility. I can't do that over the telephone. I
don't know who is around those people, I don't know what activity
they're engaged in, I don't know if they're reading other materials. I
have no way to judge their credibility and what they're presenting to
me.
CR43.
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/4
As I indicated, I have made exceptions, particularly in
termination trials, but in this case I'm going to decline to exercise
my discretion in this matter mainly for the reason that the parties
have exited themselves from the state of Washington by their own
accord and refuse to submit to the jurisdiction of this Court. They
had notice of this trial. There's nothing that has been indicated to
me that they can't make themselves available, they just simply
refuse to. Based upon that refusal, I'm not willing to extend any
discretion to them. So the parents' motion to appear telephonically
is denied.[4]
Todd does not argue that the trial court abused its discretion when it
denied her motion to appear by telephone under this rule. Such an argument
would have been unsuccessful because the reasons stated by the court were
well within the proper bounds of discretion.
Instead, she argues that her due process rights were violated because
she was not able to testify at trial by telephone.
This court reviews de novo alleged due process violations.5
In termination proceedings, due process requires that parents have notice,
an opportunity to be heard and defend, and the right to be represented by
counsel.6
The right to be heard "ordinarily includes the right to be present."7 In the
context of incarcerated parents, "The right to appear personally and defend is not
4 Report of Proceedings (Sept. 30, 2013) at 7-8.
5 Post v. City of Tacoma. 167 Wn.2d 300, 308, 217 P.3d 1179 (2009).
6 In re Welfare of S.E., 63 Wn. App. 244, 250, 820 P.2d 47 (1991).
7 In re Welfare of Houts, 7 Wn. App. 476, 481, 499 P.2d 1276 (1972).
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/5
guaranteed by due process so long as the prisoner was afforded an opportunity
to defend through counsel and by deposition or similar evidentiary techniques."8
"The proper process to ensure protection of the parent's due process
rights depends on the balancing of three factors: (1) the parent's interest, (2) the
risk of error created by the procedures, and (3) the State's interest."9
For the first factor, Todd has a fundamental liberty interest in the custody
and care of her children.10 "When the state moves irrevocably to sever the
parent-child bond, the rights of parents to protection from 'unwarranted
usurpation' by the state are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment," and the
proceedings must be "'fundamentally fair.'"11 But this interest is "not absolute
and must be balanced against the other factors."12
For the third factor, the State has a "vital interest in protecting the welfare
of children."13 "[T]he State and the child have a strong interest not only in
8 In Interest of Darrow. 32 Wn. App. 803, 808, 649 P.2d 858 (1982).
9 M.S., 98 Wn. App. at 94.
10 In re Dependency of K.D.S., 176 Wn.2d 644, 652, 294 P.3d 695 (2013).
11 In re Welfare of J.M.. 130 Wn. App. 912, 921, 125 P.3d 245 (2005)
(quoting Lassiter v. Dep't of Soc. Servs.. 452 U.S. 18, 33-34, 101 S. Ct. 2153, 68
L. Ed. 2d 640 (1981)).
12 M.S., 98 Wn. App. at 95.
13 Id.
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/6
establishing a stable and permanent home for the child, but also in doing it as
soon as possible."14
Additionally, the State has a "fiscal and administrative interest in reducing
the cost and burden of such [termination] proceedings."15 The State argues that
trial counsel is "hampered in presentation of the case by testimony by phone, for
example, by the inability to present documents or other evidence to the person
for review." The State also asserts that "[tjestimony by phone costs the court,
especially when a parent may give lengthy testimony by phone from out of state."
Given these competing interests, the second factor, the lack of risk of error
presented by the procedure followed in this case, is dispositive.
In In re Dependency of M.S., this court concluded that a parent's right to
due process was properly protected even though he was not able to testify by
telephone when he was incarcerated.16 This court determined that the "risk of
error created by the procedures used in this case was minimal."17 It gave the
following explanation:
We note that [the parent] does not challenge on appeal any of the
factual findings by the trial court. In fact, he agrees that they
accurately reflect the evidence. Moreover, [the parent's] counsel
examined witnesses and presented other evidence at the hearing.
At that hearing, his trial counsel made an offer of proof adopting the
testimony of the guardian ad litem as the same that [the parent]
14 In re Dependency of C.R.B.. 62 Wn. App. 608, 615, 814 P.2d 1197
(1991).
15 In re Dependency of T.R., 108 Wn. App. 149, 159-60, 29 P.3d 1275
(2001).
16 98 Wn. App. 91, 92, 988 P.2d 488 (1999).
17 Id. at 95.
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/7
would give had he testified. Finally, as an additional safeguard, the
trial court offered [the parent] the opportunity to present his affidavit
after the hearing and termination order. He failed to do so. And, as
of the time of oral argument on this appeal, counsel was unable to
indicate what more [the parent] could nave said to the trial court
that was not already in the record.[18]
While not all of the facts in M.S. are the same as this case, the same
conclusion is appropriate. Todd was represented by counsel during the
termination trial. Counsel filed a trial brief, presented an opening statement,
cross-examined the State's witnesses, made objections, and presented closing
argument. Counsel had the opportunity to present other evidence but declined.
Additionally, there is no dispute that Todd was properly given notice for
the termination proceeding. Had she personally appeared in court, there is no
reason to believe that she would not have had the opportunity to testify during
the trial.
And Todd's counsel made no offer of proof or other statement indicating
what testimony she would have provided to change the outcome of the trial.
Moreover, Todd did not request to testify by telephone until the first day of the
trial.
Finally, there is no challenge to the findings of fact of the court. They are
verities on appeal.
Overall, the procedure was fundamentally fair. Under these
circumstances, the trial court did not violate Todd's due process rights by
denying her motion to testify by telephone.
18
Id.
7
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/8
Todd argues that this case is distinguishable from M.S. But these
distinctions are not meaningful.
Todd points to the fact that the parent in M.S. was able to present his
version of the facts because the parent adopted the testimony of the guardian ad
litem as the same the parent would give.19 Additionally, the trial court gave the
parent the opportunity submit an affidavit summarizing his testimony.20 While
these factual differences may have reduced the risk of error in M.S.. other facts
are present in this case, as just discussed, that reduced the risk of error here.
Thus, these factual differences do not change the result. Further, like M.S.. Todd
does not indicate what else she would have said that was not already in the
record.21
Todd next asserts that if she was allowed to testify by telephone, "[t]he risk
of error is reduced." She contends that she would have been able to "'present
[her] version ofthe facts'" and challenge the evidence that the State presented.22
She asserts that the "one-sided presentation of evidence" is reflected by the
findings offact, and the findings may have been different had Todd testified.23
19 Reply Brief of Appellant at 3-4 (citing M.S., 98 Wn. App. at 95).
20 Brief of Appellant at 12 (citing M.S.. 98 Wn. App. at 95).
21 M.S.. 98 Wn. App. at 95.
22 Id. (citing In re Welfare of Haqen. 21 Wn. App. 169, 173, 584 P.2d 446
(1978)).
23 Id. at 18-19.
8
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/9
But Todd was able to present "her version of the facts" and challenge the
State's evidence through her counsel throughout the trial. The fact that she did
not recount "her version of the facts" at the trial, in person, was her choice. The
presentation of evidence was not "one-sided." Further, as previously discussed,
it is not clear what testimony Todd would have provided that would have changed
the outcome of the trial.
Todd next cites In re Welfare of R.H. for the principle that given the
parents' fundamental constitutional rights at stake in termination hearings, "'due
process requires that parents have the ability to present all relevant evidence for
the juvenile court to consider prior to terminating a parent's rights.'"24 That case
analyzed whether the trial court erred by failing to grant a motion to continue the
termination trial to allow for a home study.25
Here, the trial court did not take away Todd's ability to present all relevant
evidence. As just discussed, the court denied her the ability to present her
testimony by telephone. Thus, R.H. is not helpful.
Todd also contends that her failure to attend to the outstanding warrants in
Washington "should have no bearing on her right to present a defense through
her testimony at the parental rights termination case." Todd's failure to address
the outstanding warrants was the basis for the trial court's decision to not
exercise its discretion and allow telephonic testimony under CR 43. But that rule
24 Reply Briefof Appellant at 1 (quoting In re Welfare of R.H., 176 Wn.
App. 419, 425-26, 309 P.3d 620 (2013)).
25 R.H., 176 Wn. App. at 423.
No. 71266-7-1 (Consolidated with Nos. 71267-5-1 and 71268-3-l)/10
is separate from the only issue on appeal—whether the procedure used in this
case was fundamentally fair.
She also contends, "Punishing Todd by refusing to hear her testimony as
a result of her recalcitrance in turning herself into the criminal authorities in other
cases does not serve to preserve or decrease the risk of an erroneous
deprivation of parental rights in the case at hand." But the risk of an erroneous
deprivation was low for the reasons already discussed.
Finally, Todd cites two extra jurisdictional cases to support her assertion
that her due process rights were violated.26 But both of these cases involved an
incarcerated parent.27 Thus, they are not helpful here.
We affirm the order of termination.
Cot,3*
WE CONCUR:
ck*A
26 Brief of Appellant at 17 (citing State ex rel. Children. Youth and Families
Dep't v.Ruth Anne E.. 126 N.M. 670, 974 P.2d 164 (1999); Matter of Eileen R..
912 N.Y.S.2d 350, 79 A.D.3d 1482 (2010)).
27 Ruth Anne E.. 974 P.2d at 166; Eileen R.. 79 A.D.3d at 1482.
10