In re L.A. CA3

Filed 5/19/14 In re L.A. CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Placer) ----

In re L. A., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile C074113 Court Law.

PLACER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Super. Ct. No. 53003373) AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

K. C. et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

Ashlie A., mother of the minor, appeals from orders of the juvenile court terminating her parental rights. (Welf. & Inst. Code,1 §§ 366.26, 395.) Mother contends the court erred in appointing her a guardian ad litem and in failing to vacate the

1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

1

appointment on her request. Father also appeals from the termination order but limits his argument to asserting that if the order terminating mother’s parental rights is reversed, he should receive the same result. We affirm. FACTS In February 2012, the juvenile court ordered the minor, L.A., detained, days after her birth, based on allegations that she was at risk of physical harm in the parents’ care because mother suffered from mental and emotional problems including paranoia, tangential speech, and mood shifts and father’s parole condition prohibited contact with all children, including the minor. The detention report stated that mother’s mood and conversation fluctuated wildly during the social worker’s interview with her at the hospital. Mother showed similar behavior in dealing with hospital personnel, father, and the baby. The hospital social worker said mother was staring off into space and losing her train of thought midsentence and the worker was concerned about mother’s mental health and emotional instability. The doctor at the hospital told the social worker mother had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with depression and had refused treatment. He said mother appeared extremely manic, agitated, and anxious and showed pressured speech and tangential thought processes. The hospital chaplain also reported observing mother’s mood swings. Mother’s only plan for care of the baby was to give her to father who, as a convicted sex offender, was not permitted to have contact with the minor. At a pretrial hearing mother interjected comments repeatedly when the court was trying to get information from the social worker. Mother focused on issues of concern to her, ignoring the court’s admonishments to speak to the social worker or her attorney. Eventually, the court cautioned her about interjecting and reminded her she had counsel. The jurisdiction/disposition report filed in March 2012 stated the social worker attempted to interview mother about the allegations of the petition but mother was unable to focus. Mother was worried about the minor being exposed to Muslims, became emotional when asked about possible Indian heritage and said she would “ ‘lie to prevent