M. and G., In re, 241-73

• Decision Date: 09 May 1974
• Docket Number: No. 241-73,241-73
• Citation: 321 A.2d 19,132 Vt. 410
• Parties: In re M. and G.
• Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Page 19

321 A.2d 19

132 Vt. 410

In re M. and G.

No. 241-73.

Supreme Court of Vermont.

May 9, 1974.

Michael B. Clapp, of Dinse, Allen & Erdmann, Burlington, for Elizabeth Lund Home, Inc.

McNamara, Fitzpatrick, Sylvester, Farrell & Maley, Burlington, for the proposed adopting parents.

James R. Flett, Vermont Legal Aid, Inc., St. Albans, for the natural mother.

Richard A. Gadbois, St. Albans, for the natural father.

Before BARNEY, C. J., and SMITH, KEYSER, DALEY and LARROW, JJ.

LARROW, Justice.

On a habeas corpus petition brought to the Chittenden County Court by M., minor mother of an illegitimate infant, joined in by G., the admitted father, the trial court purported to set aside and vacate an order of the Chittenden Probate Court, dated March 7, 1973, terminating the parental rights of M. under 15 V.S.A. § 432. Both parents were unmarried. The trial court concluded that its action was required under Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551 (1972), for violation of the rights of an illegitimate father, and because no guardian ad litem had been appointed for M., then age sixteen, who signed the statutory relinquishment form with the required written assent of her own mother. Appellants here are Elizabeth Lund Home, Inc., a licensed child placing agency to whom the infant was relinquished, and the proposed adopting parents, intervenors below.

We are met at the outset by the claim of the appellees here that the appellants lack standing in this court because they have no right of appeal from the judgment of the county court. Briefly put, the argument is that In re Fitts, 124 Vt. 146, 197 A.2d 808 (1964), negated any right of appeal in habeas corpus cases; that the 1966 amendment to 12 V.S.A. § 3953 (No. 41 of the Public Acts of 1966) gave such right only to the petitioner or the state; and that, being neither one, appellants can be in court only under V.R.A.P. 21, the requirements of which they have not met. We disagree.

In re Fitts, supra, is a lengthy and careful analysis of habeas corpus proceedings under 12 V.S.A. Chapter 143. It specifically held that an order thereunder discharging a petitioner from custody was not appealable by the state, that the chapter conferred no such right, and that 12 V.S.A. §§ 2382 and 2383 (now superseded by V.R.A.P. 3) merely regulated appeals where the right otherwise existed. The opinion does not treat of, or even refer to, the type of habeas corpus here involved, used under common law precedents to determine rights of custody.

In re Cooke, 114 Vt. 177, 41 A.2d 177 (1945), outlines the history and scope of this remedy, as distinct from the one conferred by statute, pointing out that in the exercise of this jurisdiction the court acts as parens patriae. This type of habeas corpus is not statutory, but a part of our common law heritage, adopted by virtue of 1 V.S.A. § 271. In this status, we hold the decision of the County Court to be reviewable here under 4 V.S.A. § 2(a) and V. R.A.P. 3.

In support of this holding, we note that In re Cooke, supra, and In re Forslund, 123 Vt. 341, 189 A.2d 537 (1963), came to this court under then existing appellate procedure prior to the Fitts decision. In re Baldwin, 127 Vt. 7, 238 A.2d 656 (1967), came up on appeal after Fitts. Both Cooke and Forslund were appeals by petitionees below, as here. And, while the question of appellate jurisdiction was not expressly ruled on in any of these cases, they are at least indirect authority for our holding here; under Stevens v. Wright, 108 Vt. 359, 187 A. 518 (1936), where this court is without jurisdiction it acts on its own motion, and it did not so act in the cited cases.

The second question presented by this appeal is the availability of habeas corpus as a means of collateral attack upon the purported relinquishment of an infant under 15 V.S.A. § 432. Appellants argue that such relinquishment and the subsequent order terminating the natural mother's parental rights constitute a final and appealable order of the probate court, that such appeal is the appropriate remedy, and that habeas corpus is not a substitute for appeal. They cite general language from several decisions to this effect. A review of these decisions, however, indicates that they did not involve the jurisdictional question here raised. Essentially, appellees' position here is that the probate court lacked jurisdiction to render its termination order, and that the order is void because no guardian ad litem was appointed for the natural mother. If the order is indeed void, we agree with appellees' contention.

The writ is not intended to replace, in any way, regular proceedings in error, but lies to question the committing court's jurisdiction of the person and the subject matter, or its authority to render, under the circumstances of the case, the kind of judgment or order it did in fact make. In re Greenough, 116 Vt. 277, 282, 75 A.2d 569.

In re Dobson, 125 Vt. 165, 166, 212 A.2d 620, 621 (1965).

Thus, the propriety of the remedy depends upon the questions of substantive law here involved. If the relinquishment and termination order are void, habeas corpus is an appropriate method of collateral attack, since they operate to deprive the natural mother of custodial rights.

We are therefore brought to consideration of the substantive questions presented. Having determined that an appeal lies to this court, and that appellees have resorted to the appropriate remedy below if their contentions are correct, we come to the validity of those contentions.

We give our first attention to the claims of G., father of the infant here involved. Admitting paternity, he claims a violation of his rights under Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551 (1972), and following cases. Joining generally in the claims of the mother, he also asserts that Stanley requires notice to him and opportunity to be heard before his parental rights can be terminated.

Stanley speaks of 'dismemberment' of a family, and of the 'substantial interest' in retaining custody of children. Neither of these considerations has relevance here, because the putative father has never had custody, and has never even pretended to assume the duties and responsibilities of fatherhood. Without prejudging the existence of possible abandonment, suffice it to say that this may well be an important fact for determination should future proceedings result.

Apart from this, it would appear that the putative father has struck too soon, insofar as he purports to invoke habeas corpus in his own behalf. He has not been deprived of custody, because he never had it, never asserted a right to it, and does not assert it now as superior to that of the natural mother. And there is nothing in the termination order entered by the probate court even purporting to terminate his rights; by its terms, the order confines itself to the parental rights of the natural mother. Absent a relinquishment or termination order with respect to his rights, he will, in the event of adoption, be in a position to assert his claims at the adoption hearing provided for by 15 V.S.A. § 441. State ex rel. Lewis v. Lutheran Social Services, 59 Wis.2d 1, 207 N.W.2d 826 (1973). True it is that that section provides for no notice to him as the natural father of a minor not born in lawful wedlock, unless the parents have intermarried and he has recognized the child and is contributing to its support. But, should adoption be decreed without notice to him in disregard of Stanley or, as provided by 15 V.S.A. § 435(1) or (2), without his consent, the constitutional issues suggested by Stanley may then be litigated. Unless and until such a situation arises any purported determination of these issues would be advisory, and is precluded. In re Constitutionality of House Bill 88, 115 Vt. 524, 64 A.2d 169 (1949).

M. herself stands in a different position, in that the order terminating her rights was in fact made by the probate court, based upon the relinquishment executed by herself and her mother. This order she asserts is void because she was then sixteen and no guardian ad litem was appointed for her. She further claims that her mother not only was not so appointed, but could not have been, or have acted as such, because of her conflicting interests.

On the specific facts of the case, the county court would seem to have resolved the question of conflicting interests against the appellee. The question was not an easy one, because the record is replete with numerous instances of admitted perjury and changed testimony. But the question was faced and determined, and a careful review of the transcript indicates that the findings of fact, insofar as based upon the evidence, are well within the 'clearly erroneous' test of V.R.C.P. 52(a).

The appellee mother filed extensive requests for findings, which included numerous requests for findings as to specific instances of conflicting interest. Request No. 69 was for a finding of general adverse interest at all material times. None of these requests was granted. On the contrary, the factual picture found by the court was one of discussions between M. and her mother throughout the pregnancy, an understanding by each of the consequences of relinquishment and a willingness to place the child for adoption on the part of M., a change of mind by M. not occurring until some two months after the relinquishment, and an absence of any fraud, duress, coercion or undue influence to persuade her to relinquish the child for adoption.

The only finding below tending to support the existence of a conflict of interest is found in the first two sentences of Finding No. 48, which appears under 'Conclusions of Law.' These sentences,...