IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF G.S., III, A MINOR, ET AL.
Case Date: 05/24/1994
Docket No: SYLLABUS
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(This syllabus is not part of the opinion of the Court. It has been prepared by the Office of the Clerk for
the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Supreme Court. Please
note that, in the interests of brevity, portions of any opinion may not have been summarized).
IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF G.S., III, A MINOR, ET AL. (A-74/75/76/145-93)
Argued January 19, 1994 -- Decided May 24, 1994
O'HERN, J., writing for a unanimous court.
The parties in this case filed their appeals in the Appellate Division at a time when a 1989 directive
for furnishing trial transcripts to indigents was in effect. That directive followed In re Guardianship of
Dotson, in which this Court held that an indigent parent appealing the termination of his or her parental
rights has the right to obtain trial transcripts at public expenses when the transcripts are necessary to the
appeal. Moreover, the Court held that when complete trial transcripts are necessary, if no alternative source
provided transcripts, DYFS would have to bear the cost. Following Dotson, the Chief Justice's
Administrative Directive No. 9-89 dated September 20, 1989, required the Administrative Office of the
Courts (AOC) to advance the cost of payment of transcripts of parental-rights termination proceedings on
the filing of appeals in order to avoid delays caused by disputes over who would pay for the transcripts.
Pursuant to Directive 9-89, the Appellate Division or the trial court would determine the appropriate source
for reimbursement of the transcript cost after the appeal had been decided.
In the first three cases, In re Guardianship of G.S., In re Guardianship of S.A.M.M.J., and In re
Guardianship of C.R.S. and K.K.B.S., the respective trial courts terminated the parental rights of the parents.
The parents filed notices of appeal and the Appellate Division affirmed the trial court judgments. Pursuant
to Directive 9-89, the Appellate Division directed that DYFS reimburse the AOC for the costs of the
transcripts required for appellate review rather than remanding the issue to the trial courts. DYFS
petitioned for certification, claiming that the Appellate Division should not have ordered DYFS to pay for
trial transcripts but should have remanded the issue to the trial courts to determine the appellants' indigency,
the necessity of complete transcripts, and the possibility of other sources of payment pursuant to Dotson.
The Supreme Court granted certification in those cases.
In five other cases consolidated for review under the caption In re Guardianship of A.C.C., V.C.K.
& K.C., the Appellate Division, in compliance with Directive 9-89, remanded the issue of the payment of
transcript costs to the respective trial courts. The trial court in each case directed DYFS to reimburse the
AOC for the transcripts. The Appellate Division consolidated the five cases and affirmed the trial court
judgments. DYFS petitioned for certification, claiming that the court had no legislative authority to order
DYFS to pay those costs and that the county in each case is the appropriate party to the bear the cost of
preparing the transcripts. The Supreme Court granted certification.
HELD: In cases in which the Office of the Public Defender is not statutorily mandated to defend, the
Division of Youth and Family Services, the agency designated to initiate and prosecute actions to
terminate parental rights, will be responsible to pay for the necessary and related defense services
required by a qualified indigent, unless there is an available alternative source of funds. Thus,
DYFS must bear the expense of the transcripts in these cases. 1. Because the Office of the Public Defender is not involved in these cases, the source of payment for transcripts in termination of parental-rights proceedings under Title 30 is either DYFS or the counties. Those who provide transcript services to the courts do not have the same obligation as attorneys to provide pro bono assistance. Therefore, DYFS, the governmental agency involved, must bear the cost of providing transcripts for indigent parents in termination proceedings. Although not expressly required by statute to provide free transcripts to indigents, DYFS must, under statutory authority, prosecute parental-rights
termination proceedings. That includes a request to the Legislature for the money necessary to effectuate
the provisions of Title 30 and contemplates such expenditures for the benefit of the child. (pp. 8-10)
2. The counties should not be held responsible for payment of transcripts in parental-rights termination
appeals. In 1967, the Legislature established the OPD to represent indigent criminal defendants, relieving
the counties of their statutory obligation. Although termination proceedings are quasi-criminal in nature, the
county does not prosecute the proceedings and has not been charged with "parental" jurisdiction over
children. Rather, the Legislature has designated DYFS as the agency to initiate such termination
proceedings. In view of that designation, the Legislature did not intend that counties bear the costs of those
proceedings. Although the issue is not before the Court, similar principles should inform the issue of the
provision of other ancillary services for indigent defendants in Title 30 termination cases. (pp. 10-12)
3. If alternative means of funding the preparation of transcripts are available, they should be used. In
these cases, the lower courts followed the procedures of Directive 9-89; therefore, there is no need for
reconsideration under Dotson. The Court also notes the unnecessary complexity introduced into the
disposition of child-welfare cases because of the differing treatment between Title 9 and Title 30 proceedings.
(pp. 13-16)
Judgments of the Appellate Division are AFFIRMED.
CHIEF JUSTICE WILENTZ and JUSTICES CLIFFORD, HANDLER, POLLOCK, GARIBALDI
and STEIN join in JUSTICE O'HERN's opinion.
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE MATTER OF THE
THE GUARDIANSHIP OF
THE GUARDIANSHIP OF
THE GUARDIANSHIP OF
THE GUARDIANSHIP OF
THE GUARDIANSHIP OF
Argued January 19, 1994 -- Decided May 24, 1994
On certification to the Superior Court,
Appellate Division.
Peter D. Alvino, Deputy Attorney General,
argued the cause for appellant, New Jersey
Division of Youth and Family Services
(Deborah T. Poritz, Attorney General of New
Jersey, attorney; Andrea M. Silkowitz,
Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Mr.
Alvino, Marcia Membrino, Sheila Crotty,
Deputy Attorneys General, on the briefs).
John P. Gallina argued the cause for
respondent County of Hunterdon (Gaetano M.
DeSapio, Hunterdon County Counsel, attorney).
Gary A. Kraemer submitted a brief on behalf
of respondent E.S. (Daggett & Kraemer,
attorneys).
William J. McGovern, III, submitted a brief
on behalf of respondent G.S., Jr. (McGovern
and Roseman, attorneys).
Malcolm V. Carton, Monmouth County Counsel,
submitted a letter in lieu of brief on behalf
of respondent County of Monmouth.
Donald M. Weitzman submitted a letter in lieu
of brief on behalf of respondent D.S.
(Glucksman & Weitzman, attorneys).
The opinion of the court was delivered by
O'HERN, J.
This appeal concerns the procedure for providing trial
transcripts to indigent parents who appeal the termination of
their parental rights and the designation of the appropriate
entity to pay for those transcripts. The issues are related to
those in New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. E.B.,
___ N.J. ___, also decided today, which concern the obligation of
the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to provide ancillary
services in certain child-abuse and neglect proceedings that it
is statutorily mandated to defend. See N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21 to
To reduce delay in appeals involving termination of parental
rights, the Appellate Division identifies and accelerates the
processing of those appeals. We have employed various procedures
by which parties without financial means can obtain the essential
transcripts required for review by the Appellate Division and
without undue delay. Our concern in this appeal, as in many
others, is which entity should pay for those transcripts. We
hold that in cases in which OPD is not statutorily mandated to
defend the case, the Division of Youth and Family Services
(DYFS), the agency designated to initiate and prosecute actions
to terminate parental rights on the grounds of the best interests
of the child, must bear the cost of the requisite transcripts.
See N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.
The parties in these cases filed their appeals in the Appellate Division, at which time a 1989 directive for furnishing trial transcripts to indigents was in effect. Before we describe that 1989 procedure, we must review the guidelines initially outlined for trial courts in In re Guardianship of Dotson, 72 N.J. 112 (1976).
In Dotson, supra, the Court held that indigent parents appealing the termination of their parental rights have the right
to obtain trial transcripts at public expense when they are
necessary to their appeal. Id. at 118-19. In Justice Pashman's
concurrence, he stated that indigent parents' right to
transcripts is grounded in principles of constitutional due
process and equal protection. Id. at 120-21. The Court's
acknowledgement that the proceeding is "quasi-criminal" led him
to the conclusion that parents cannot be prejudiced in their
appeals by virtue of their poverty any more than can indigent
criminal defendants. Id. at 123. In New Jersey, indigent
criminal defendants are entitled to free transcripts prepared at
public expense pursuant to the Court Rules and statute. Id. at
124; see R. 2:5-3; N.J.S.A. 2A:152-17.
The Court held that in cases involving "a most sensitive
area of basic human relations," such as termination of parental
rights, when complete trial transcripts are necessary to indigent
parents' appeals, if no alternative sources provided transcripts,
DYFS "will have to bear the cost thereof." Id. at 118-19. In
Dotson, supra, the Court ordered that DYFS pay for the
transcript. The county in which that action took place was not a
party to the action.
Following Dotson, increasing concern about delays in Family Part appeals required the establishment of new procedures to insure justice and fairness to indigent parties under which they could swiftly obtain transcripts to process their appeals. The Chief Justice's Administrative Directive #9-89 of September 20, 1989, set forth a procedure that required the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to advance the cost of payment of transcripts of parental-rights-termination proceedings on the filing of such appeals. That procedure was designed to avoid delays caused by disputes over who would pay for the transcripts. The idea was to get the transcripts to the indigent parties first and then decide who would pay. Pursuant to the directive, the Appellate Division or the trial court would determine the appropriate source for reimbursement of the transcript costs after an appeal had been decided.
Subsequently, on October 22, 1992, Directive #5-92 rescinded
Directive #9-89. Directive #5-92 provides that "[i]ndigent
appellants will be required to move for free transcripts in
termination of parental rights or child abuse appeals.
Ordinarily, these motions should be made and decided in the trial
court under the guidelines set forth in In re Guardianship of
Dotson,
72 N.J. 112 (1976)." Directive #5-92 further provides
the theory for a change in procedure to be to resolve better and
more expeditiously the dispute: "It is anticipated that this
goal can better be achieved with the trial judge addressing the
transcript issue at the inception of the appeal."
We focus now on the cases before us. The Appellate Division in each instance properly followed the procedure detailed in Directive #9-89, which was in effect at the time the notices of appeal were filed, and we affirm its judgments.
In the first three cases, In re Guardianship of G.S., In re Guardianship of S.A.M.M.J., and In re Guardianship of C.R.S. & K.K.B.S., the respective trial courts entered judgments terminating the parental rights of the parents. The parents filed notices of appeal. The Appellate Division, in unpublished opinions, affirmed the judgments. Pursuant to Directive #9-89,
the Appellate Division directed that DYFS reimburse the AOC for
the cost of the transcripts required for appellate review rather
than remanding the issue to the trial courts. DYFS petitioned
for certification, claiming that the Appellate Division should
not have ordered DYFS to pay for trial transcripts but should
have remanded the issue to the trial courts to determine
appellants' indigence, the necessity of a complete transcript,
and the possibility of other sources for payment pursuant to
Dotson, supra, 72 N.J. at 117-18. We granted DYFS's petitions
for certification,
134 N.J. 479 (1993).
Five other cases consolidated for review under the caption of In re Guardianship of A.C.C., V.C.K. & K.C. also involve reimbursement to the AOC for the cost of transcripts required for termination of parental-rights appeals. In compliance with Directive #9-89, the Appellate Division remanded the issue of payment of transcript costs to the respective trial courts. The trial court in each case directed DYFS to reimburse the AOC for the transcripts. The Appellate Division consolidated the five cases for disposition and, in an unpublished opinion, affirmed those judgments. DYFS petitioned for certification, claiming that the court had no legislative authority to order DYFS to pay those costs and that the county in each case is the appropriate party to bear the cost of preparing the transcripts. Although
the counties were not parties to the actions below, DYFS contends
that the counties must pay for those transcripts just as they pay
for other expenses ancillary to the representation of indigents
in quasi-criminal proceedings, for which OPD does not bear the
cost. We granted DYFS's petition for certification,
134 N.J. 569
(1993).
In New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. E.B., supra, ___ N.J. ___, also decided today, we set forth the interrelated procedures for reimbursement of ancillary services in certain child-abuse and neglect proceedings under Title 9. N.J.S.A. 30:4C-12 sets forth parallel procedures to provide for temporary care, custody, and guardianship when a child is abused or neglected. In sum, we held that in cases that fall within the province of OPD to defend, that agency pays for essential ancillary services such as expert fees and transcript costs. So too here, we rule that were these Title 9 cases, OPD would bear the burden. Because OPD is not involved, however, the source of payment for transcripts in termination of parental-rights proceedings under N.J.S.A. 30:4C-1 to -40 (Title 30) is either DYFS or the counties. No party has identified a federal source for payment of transcripts. In New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. D.C., 118 N.J. 388 (1990), we held that attorneys assigned to represent
indigent parents and their children in parental-rights-termination proceedings are not entitled to public compensation.
In D.C. we reviewed the statutory duties of DYFS in terms of an
obligation to provide counsel for indigent parents. Although
recognizing that parents have a right to counsel, we decided not
to impose on DYFS the obligation to compensate their counsel. We
so held because of the special history and tradition of the bar
to provide legal representation. We require lawyers to provide
pro bono service to the public. See R. 3:27-2.
sufficient to pay the estimated amount
required to carry into effect the provisions
of this act [N.J.S.A. 30:4C-1 to -40],
together with the deficiencies, if any,
incurred in the previous year. The
Legislature shall include the amount so
determined and stated, in the annual
appropriations bill.
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15 provides that DYFS may initiate a petition
to terminate parental rights on the grounds of the best interests
of the child. N.J.S.A. 30:4C-27 authorizes DYFS to "expend such
sums as may be necessary for the reasonable and proper cost of
maintenance, including board, lodging, clothing, medical, dental,
and hospital care, or any other similar or specialized commodity
or service as the needs of any such child may require * * *."
Under N.J.S.A. 30:4C-29, DYFS is authorized to make payments for
maintenance from the funds appropriated under N.J.S.A. 30:4C-30.
Obviously, that contemplates expenditures for the benefit of the
child. Logically, paying for transcripts will benefit the child
and not just the parent because the entire proceeding is to
benefit the child.
Although N.J.S.A. 2A:152-17 requires counties to pay for transcripts in prosecution of criminal appeals when the defendant is indigent and makes application to the court, we do not believe that the counties should be held responsible for payment of transcripts in appeals of termination of parental rights. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:158-7, the county bears all necessary costs of criminal prosecutions. We found in State v. Rush, 46 N.J. 399, 414 (1966), that those costs included the cost of counsel's representation of indigents. However, in 1967, the Legislature established OPD to represent indigent criminal defendants, relieving the counties of that obligation. N.J.S.A. 2A:158A-1. In State v. Arenas, 126 N.J. 504 (1991), we held that the Public Defender Act superseded N.J.S.A. 2A:152-17 and that OPD, not the counties, must pay for trial transcripts for an indigent defendant even when represented by private counsel. Id. at 507, 509-10. In In re Cannady, 126 N.J. 486 (1991), we held that OPD is required to provide ancillary services, such as an expert, on application by an indigent defendant even if represented by a private attorney. Thus, in the criminal field, OPD and not the county bears the cost of providing attorneys, paying for transcripts, and compensating experts for indigent defendants in criminal cases. Although termination proceedings are quasi-criminal in nature, the county does not prosecute the proceedings and has not
been charged with parens patriae jurisdiction over children. The
Legislature has designated DYFS as the agency to initiate
termination proceedings. Realistically, DYFS will have to pay
for those proceedings or those proceedings will not be pursued.
Parenthetically, we note that the recent trend in
intergovernmental relations has been to relieve counties of the
burden of paying State obligations through county property tax.
N.J.S.A. 2B:2-5 (transferring costs of judiciary); N.J.S.A. 44:8-129 (transferring costs of public assistance).
Jersey Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. T.C.,
251 N.J. Super. 419, 441 (App. Div. 1991) (remanding parental-rights-termination
case to provide indigent defendants with opportunity to present
expert testimony). Of course, this right is a qualified right.
"Indigent litigants in cases of this kind do not have a limitless
right in selecting experts of their own choosing and imposing the
cost thereof on the State." In re Guardianship of S.C.,
246 N.J.
Super. 414, 431 (App. Div.), certif. denied,
126 N.J. 334 (1991).
Currently, Directive #5-92 requires indigent appellants "to move for free transcripts in termination of parental rights * * * appeals." Trial courts shall consider and decide those motions under the guidelines set forth in Dotson, supra. First, trial courts should determine if the appellants are indigent. Second, trial courts should decide whether the grounds raised for appeal are frivolous. Our experience in reviewing those cases suggests that the appeals are rarely frivolous in the same sense as appeals foreclosed by a statute of limitations or another defense of that nature. In termination cases, the appellate court is usually required to measure the evidence introduced at trial against the established standards for termination of parental rights. In re Guardianship of J.C., 129 N.J. 1, 18-19 (1992). Third, trial courts should determine if an abbreviated transcript is acceptable. In some cases, the issue may be
limited to review of a key expert's testimony; in others, the
entire transcript may be needed. We note that in many cases,
because appellate counsel did not handle the termination
proceedings below, that attorney will require a complete
transcript to prosecute the appeal. Finally, if alternative
means of funding the preparation of transcripts are available,
such as private individuals or organizations, or federal child-welfare programs, they should be employed. If no alternative
source of financing is available, DYFS shall be required to fund
the production of transcripts.
We summarize our holdings in this case and in E.B., supra, ___ N.J. ___, also decided today. In cases seeking termination of parental rights pursuant to Title 30, in the absence of any other source of funds, DYFS shall be obliged to provide the services to indigent parties necessary to their defense other than legal representation. In cases brought under or involving violations of Title 9 and the procedures and measures for temporary custody set forth in N.J.S.A. 30:4C-12, OPD shall be obliged to provide to indigent parties legal representation and ancillary services, including the production of transcripts when private or public-interest counsel represent the indigent parties. In these cases, as in the pending child-abuse and neglect case of New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. K.M., ___ N.J. ___ (1994) (in which we have entered an order of disposition), we note that unnecessary complexity is introduced into the disposition of those child-welfare cases by the parallel but not congruent tracks of Title 9 and Title 30 proceedings. We note that the Legislature could combine both avenues of child advocacy under a single title with a single mandate to OPD to provide necessary legal representation. Any savings thought to be achieved by current use of pro bono lawyers may be diluted by the legal maneuvers required to sort out the differing
responsibilities of DYFS, OPD, the private bar, and public-interest law firms.
Chief Justice Wilentz and Justices Clifford, Handler, Pollock, Garibaldi, and Stein join in this opinion.
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