Grayson, Matter of
Citation | 419 So.2d 234 |
Parties | In the Matter of Tonya GRAYSON, Sonya Grayson and Christopher Grayson, all children under eighteen years of age. Bobby GRAYSON v. STATE of Alabama DEPARTMENT OF PENSIONS AND SECURITY. Civ. 3243. |
Decision Date | 28 July 1982 |
Court | Alabama Court of Civil Appeals |
Charles J. Kettler, Jr., Luverne, for appellant.
Alton L. Turner, Luverne, for appellee.
This is a child custody case. On August 18, 1981, the Crenshaw County Juvenile Court ordered that temporary legal custody of the three minor children of Bobby Grayson (the father) be continued in the Crenshaw County Department of Pensions and Security (DPS). The order authorized DPS to place physical custody of the smallest child, Sonya, with Ann Gibson (the mother) and custody of the two older children, Tonya and Christopher, with Lena Cole (the paternal grandmother). On October 28, 1981, the father petitioned for a modification of the previous order seeking to have permanent legal and physical custody of all three children. DPS answered and petitioned for a modification to give DPS permanent legal and physical custody of all three children without visitation rights for either parent. By order of November 6, 1981, the Juvenile Court awarded permanent legal and physical custody of the children to DPS and terminated all parental rights of the father and mother. The order further authorized DPS to place the children for adoption or place their physical custody with any person or persons it sees fit, including the mother, father, or paternal grandmother. The father appealed de novo to the circuit court. On January 21, 1982, after an ore tenus hearing, the court affirmed the November 6 order in all pertinent respects. On February 22, 1982, the father moved for a new trial. The motion was denied by order of March 5, 1982. The father filed notice of appeal to this court on April 16, 1982. DPS's motion to dismiss the appeal as untimely was denied by this court.
The record before us reveals the following pertinent facts:
The mother and father were separated in June 1980 after approximately nine years of marriage. DPS became involved in that same month when they became aware of an altercation between the mother and father which resulted in jail sentences for both parents. After gaining custody of the children pursuant to an emergency pickup order, DPS petitioned for and received temporary legal custody of the children. The parents subsequently divorced and the mother remarried. 1 Initially, physical custody of the three children was placed with foster parents. During this time the children were brought to the DPS office for visitation, with each parent visiting on alternate weeks. According to the work log and testimony of Jan Carter, a DPS worker in Crenshaw County, she had numerous contacts and conversations with the father. On these occasions the father seemed constantly more intent on discussing his ex-wife and his quarrels with her than on working toward a stable environment for his children. He consistently berated the mother in front of the children even after repeated requests by Carter to steer clear of that subject. The mother and her second husband secured numerous breach of peace warrants against the father for his constant harassment of them. The youngest child, Sonya, consistently requested to live with her mother. In August DPS allowed the mother to have physical custody of Sonya.
Upon hearing of this, the father requested custody of the two older children. After a hearing the Juvenile Court issued an order allowing DPS to place physical custody of Tonya and Christopher with their paternal grandmother. The father resided in the house with the paternal grandmother. The order provided that neither parent should have contact with the other parent or the child or children in the other parent's custody for twelve months. DPS required the father to refrain from interfering with complete control over Tonya and Christopher by their grandmother. He was not to be allowed to care for the children or take them anywhere by himself. The children initially seemed to respond well to this situation, but both parents soon began to disregard the conditions of the custody order. The father took the children places without the grandmother and continued to harass his ex-wife. The grandmother arranged visits between the mother and Tonya and Christopher. The mother also contacted the father in violation of the court order. More peace warrants were issued against the father. At this point the mother's second marriage began to break up. Upon learning of the mother's separation, the father brought the petition to modify the August 18, 1981, order to gain legal custody of all three children, alleging that the mother could no longer provide a suitable home for Sonya.
The first issue raised by the father on appeal is whether the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem on appeal to the circuit court is reversible error. We find that it is not. Rule 11, Alabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure (A.R. Juv. P.) provides:
Clearly the instant case falls under the provisions of subsection (2) of Rule 11(G), A.R. Juv. P., and appointment of counsel for the minor children was not mandatory. The appeal to the circuit court was de novo. Therefore, appointment of a guardian ad litem was within the discretion of that court even though there had been an appointment in juvenile court.
The second issue is whether there is sufficient evidence in the record to support the order terminating the father's parental rights.
In Ely v. Casteel, 341 So.2d 730 (Ala.Civ.App.1977), we set forth the legal principles which govern a case such as this as follows:
To remove custody from the natural parent there must be clear and convincing evidence that it would be against the best interests of the child to remain with the natural parent. Massey v. Massey, 410 So.2d 422 (Ala.Civ.App.1981...
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