Santa Ana
A foster mother who sought approval to adopt the child she had been caring for has the right to a hearing on her request, the state appellate court in Santa Ana ruled Thursday.
The mother, identified in the court’s ruling only as Jinny N., had cared for the 8-year-old child, Teresa, since 1983.
The Orange County Social Services Agency, which first placed the child in Jinny’s care, had repeatedly encouraged the mother to apply for adoption, according to the 4th District Court of Appeal opinion written by Justice Edward J. Wallin.
But in March, while an adoption petition was pending, the agency sought to remove Teresa from the home after bruises were found on her leg. A judge refused to remove the child, finding that bruises were probably the result of medication the child was taking to control epilepsy.
The Social Services Agency then opposed the adoption. The agency said the petition should be dismissed because no formal adoptive placement agreement--a preliminary step toward adoption--had been signed. A judge agreed, but the appellate court reversed that decision.
Jinny’s long record of foster care for the child earned her the right to a hearing, the court ruled.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
