K.S., In Interest of, No. 18222

• Decision Date: 06 July 1993
• Docket Number: No. 18222
• Citation: 856 S.W.2d 915
• Parties: In the Interest of K.S., a minor. P.J.S. and B.S., Appellants.
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

Page 915

856 S.W.2d 915

In the Interest of K.S., a minor.

P.J.S. and B.S., Appellants.

No. 18222.

Missouri Court of Appeals,

Southern District,

Division One.

July 6, 1993.

P.J.S. and B.S., pro se.

Lisa A. Ghan, Lowther, Johnson, Joyner, Lowther, Cully & Housley, Springfield, for respondent Juvenile Officer.

PER CURIAM.

P.J.S. and B.S. are parents of a child, K.S., who was three years old at the time the juvenile officer of the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, filed the petition that produced this appeal. The juvenile division of the circuit court (the trial court) entered an order finding that the child was "in need of the care, protection and services of the Court." It then, "on [the] Court's own motion," continued the "[d]ispositional hearing." P.J.S. and B.S. attempt to appeal from that order. For the reasons that follow, the appeal must be dismissed.

The attorney for the juvenile officer filed a motion to dismiss this appeal contending that "there is not yet a final judgment from which to appeal." In considering that motion, the following procedural history is gleaned from the record on appeal:

1. References to statutes are to RSMo Supp.1991 unless otherwise stated.

                     Date                                 Disposition
                November 18,     Petition filed alleging that juvenile court had jurisdiction
                  1991             by reason of § 211.031.1(1)(a) 1 because K.S. was
                                   neglected
                Note FN1. References to statutes are to RSMo Supp.1991 unless otherwise stated
                                 Trial court ordered K.S. placed in temporary custody of
                                   Division of Family Services (D.F.S.)
                November 19,     Hearing on petition scheduled for December 11, 1991
                  1991
                November 21,     K.S. returned to physical custody of her parents subject to
                  1991             continuing supervision by D.F.S
                December 11,     Case continued at juvenile officer's request.
                  1991
                December 24,     Case continued to January 30, 1992.
                  1991
                January 24,      Case continued to March 12, 1992.
                  1992
                March 11, 1992   Case continued to May 5, 1992.
                April 28, 1992   Case continued to May 26, 1992.
                May 26, 1992     Evidentiary hearing was begun but continued prior to its
                                   completion because of illness of B.S., mother of K.S.
                June 16, 1992    Evidentiary hearing resumed.  The trial court found that K.S.
                                   was subject to juvenile court jurisdiction pursuant to §
                                   211.031.1(1).  Dispositional hearing continued.
                June 19, 1992    Notice of appeal filed.
                

"Appellate review of juvenile proceedings is in the nature of appellate review of court-tried civil cases." In Interest of L.W., 830 S.W.2d 885, 886 (Mo.App.1992). The judgment appealed is "any final judgment, order or decree made under the provisions of [chapter 211]." § 211.261, RSMo 1986. See Rule 120.01.

An order is final and appealable if it disposes of all issues in the case and leaves nothing for future determination, unless a trial court has designated the order as final for purposes of appeal and made an express determination that there is no just reason for delay. ²

In Interest of N.D., 819 S.W.2d 790, 791 (Mo.App.1991).

Rule 119.06(a) prescribes what is to be included in the judgment rendered in a juvenile proceeding. It states, "The judgment shall include the disposition or treatment of the juvenile." Section 211.181.1 provides for various dispositions that a juvenile court may make after it has determined that a child is subject to juvenile court jurisdiction, i.e., that the child comes within the applicable provisions of § 211.031.1(1).

The foregoing is consistent with the procedure outlined by Rule 119.02. In a juvenile court hearing, the court, in the adjudicatory phase, determines if the evidence presented establishes that the child comes under juvenile court jurisdiction. If so, the court proceeds with the dispositional phase. The court receives evidence regarding "disposition or treatment that should be ordered for the juvenile." Rule 119.02(a)(9). "[T]he court shall enter a judgment directing the action that shall be taken regarding the juvenile." Rule 119.02(a)(10).

In this case, the dispositional phase of the hearing was not completed at the time P.J.S. and B.S. appealed. As such, it is similar to In re Interest of T--- G---, 455 S.W.2d 3 (Mo.App.1970). There, after an adjudicatory hearing regarding allegations in the petition filed in juvenile court, the trial court announced its finding that the allegations were supported by the evidence. It then continued the hearing "without making any ruling as to disposition" to permit the juvenile officer to make a social investigation. Id. at 6. See Rules 119.02(a) and 119.05.

After a social investigation was completed, a "hearing on the dispositional phase" was held. Id. The trial court entered two orders. One was entered on the date of the adjudicatory hearing, January 24, 1968, and one on March 25, 1968, after the disposition hearing. The March 25 order referred to the prior order that ...