CHILDREN AND THE LAW
...Dependency Petitions
......Jurisdictional Hearing
.........Appellate Review
7 Cards On This Topic:
  • Parents may not contest applicability of W&I 300 (e) after ’no contest’ plea at jurisdiction hearing; their knowing and voluntary acquiescence waived right to challenge.
  • Error to grant mother's motion to set aside jurisdictional findings based on purported due process violation re GAL appointment. Sara D. could not be applied to vacate final dependency orders absent W&IC 388 petition.
  • Appeal dismissed as moot where parents' subsequent stips amounted to unqualified admission that jurisdictional findings and dispositional order supported by substantial evidence.
  • Procedural errors re jurisdictional hearing harmless absent prejudice; court may rely on social worker’s report if opportunity to cross-examine.
  • Order dismissing dependency petition following contested jurisdictional hearing is appealable.
  • Appeal from jurisdictional and dispositional orders moot after order terminating jurisdiction of juvenile court final and case transferred to Superior Court (Welf. & Inst. Code §362.4).
  • Submission on social study where court weighs evidence is not an admission or no contest plea; F did not waive right to appeal jurisdictional findings.