Fia v. St. Clair Family Court Judge

639 N.W.2d 600, 248 Mich. App. 565

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 25, 2002
• Docket: 219442
• Status: Published

Opinion

639 N.W.2d 600 (2001) 248 Mich. App. 565

FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, Plaintiff,
v.
ST. CLAIR FAMILY COURT JUDGE and People of the State of Michigan, Family Division, Defendants.

Docket No. 219442.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted September 12, 2001, at Detroit. Decided December 7, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. Released for Publication February 25, 2002.

Jennifer M. Granholm, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, and William R. Morris, Assistant Attorney General, for the plaintiff.

Peter R. George, Prosecuting Attorney, and Timothy K. Morris, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the defendants.

Before: KIRSTEN FRANK KELLY, P.J., and HOOD and ZAHRA, JJ.

ON REHEARING

PER CURIAM.

This action seeking an order for superintending control comes to us on rehearing. We affirm this Court's prior order denying plaintiff Family Independence Agency relief.

I. Procedural History

In August 1998, fourteen-year-old MJK was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC II), accosting a child for immoral purposes, and indecent exposure. In January 1999, MJK pleaded guilty to the CSC II charge, and the other two charges were dismissed. In its order of disposition, the court made MJK a temporary ward of the court.

On February 19, 1999, following a dispositional hearing, the family court referee issued a supplemental order of disposition recommending, in pertinent part, as follows:

The juvenile's placement shall be changed to WJ MAXEY—SUMMIT.

That [MJK] be continued as a temporary ward of this Court.

That [MJK] be committed to the State of Michigan Family Independence Agency under Public Act for future care and planning.

That [MJK] be immediately placed at Maxey Boys Training School to receive treatment as a sex offender.

That the Director of Boys Training School is ordered to accept [MJK] upon presentation of said minor and this Court Order.

* * *

That [MJK] shall be transferred from the caseload of ... Juvenile Probation Officer, to the caseload of ... delinquency worker at the Family Independence Agency.[^[1]]

On March 8, 1999, the FIA appealed the family court's dispositional order to this Court, arguing that the order violated M.C.L. § 712A.18(1)(e), as amended by 1998 PA 478,^[2] because it usurped the FIA's authority to determine the appropriate placement for the juvenile, particularly in light of the newly added language of the statute. This Court issued an order dismissing the appeal pursuant to MCR 7.216(A)(10) because the FIA was not a party to the proceedings involving the juvenile. This Court's order, however, stated that dismissal was without prejudice to the FIA's filing a complaint for superintending control. In re MJK, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered April 26, 1999 (Docket No. 218041).

On May 12, 1999, the FIA filed a complaint for superintending control in this Court. Again, the FIA maintained that the supplemental and amended orders violated subsection 18(1)(e) because they usurped the FIA's authority to determine the placement of the juvenile. On February 8, 2000, this Court peremptorily dismissed the FIA's complaint for superintending control. A panel of this Court concluded that the amended language of subsection 18(1)(e) deprived the FIA of statutory authority to directly place juvenile offenders who are wards of the court, even though the court had also committed the juvenile to the care of the FIA.^[3] On April 27, 2000, this Court granted plaintiff's motion for rehearing and directed the parties to proceed in the same manner as in an appeal of right. FIA v. St Clair Family Court Judge, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered April 27, 2000 (Docket No. 219442).

II. Analysis

On this appeal, the issue presented is whether, under M.C.L. § 712A.18(1)(e), the family court has authority to determine the specific placement of a juvenile when it commits the juvenile to the FIA, but continues the juvenile as a court ward. This is an original action in this Court, presenting issues of statutory interpretation.

The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the Legislature. Frankenmuth Mut. Ins. Co. v. Marlette Homes, Inc., 456 Mich. 511, 515, 573 N.W.2d 611 (1998). If the plain and ordinary meaning of a statute is clear, judicial construction is neither necessary nor permitted. Cherry Growers, Inc. v. Agricultural Marketing & Bargaining Bd., 240 Mich.App. 153, 166, 610 N.W.2d 613 (2000). We may not speculate regarding the probable intent of the Legislature beyond the words expressed in the statute. In re Schnell, 214 Mich.App. 304, 310, 543 N.W.2d 11 (1995). When reasonable minds may differ with respect to the meaning of a statute, the courts must look to the object of the statute, the harm it is designed to remedy, and apply a reasonable construction that best accomplishes the purpose of the statute. Marquis v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity (After Remand), 444 Mich. 638, 644, 513 N.W.2d 799 (1994).

With those well-settled principles of statutory interpretation in mind, we agree with the prior panel of this Court that an order for superintending control is not warranted under these circumstances given the plain language of M.C.L. § 712A.18(1)(e). Section 18 provides, in pertinent part:

(1) If the court finds that a juvenile concerning whom a petition is filed is not within this chapter, the court shall enter an order dismissing the petition. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (10), if the court finds that a juvenile is within this chapter, the court may enter any of the following orders of disposition that are appropriate for the welfare of the juvenile and society in view of the facts proven and ascertained:

* * *

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, commit the juvenile to a public institution, county facility, institution operated as an agency of the court or county, or agency authorized by law to receive juveniles of similar age, sex, and characteristics. If the juvenile is not a ward of the court, the court shall commit the juvenile to the family independence agency or, if the county is a county juvenile agency, to that county juvenile agency for placement in or commitment to such an institution or facility as the family independence agency or county juvenile agency determines is most appropriate, subject to any initial level of placement the court designates....

The FIA argues that because subdivision e allows the FIA authority to place juveniles committed to the agency, the court's conduct in the present case unduly usurped that authority. We disagree with the FIA's interpretation of § 18. Significantly, subdivision e begins with the plain statement: "Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision," then goes on to provide that a court may enter an order committing a juvenile to the specific institutions or facilities it sees fit. Thus, the juvenile courts have been given general authority with respect to committing juveniles to the designated facilities and institutions. The only limitation on that authority is provided in the second part of subdivision e, stating "If the juvenile is not a ward of the court...." In such a case, the Legislature has required that the court commit the juvenile to the FIA or, in limited instances, to the appropriate county juvenile agency.^[4]

In this case, the trial court's dispositional order provides that MJK was to be continued as a court ward. Thus, under the plain language of subsection 18(1)(e), the limitation on the court's general authority to place MJK in a specific institution or facility does not apply. Accordingly, the court had authority to "commit [MJK] to a public institution, county facility, institution operated as an agency of the court or county, or agency authorized by law to receive juveniles of similar age, sex, and characteristics." We recognize that subdivision e does not specifically delineate a procedure to be followed in situations such as the present, where the court has continued the juvenile as a court ward and committed the juvenile to the FIA. However, without a more specific directive from our Legislature,^[5] we cannot conclude that placement of the juvenile in this case is not within the sole discretion of the court as provided in the first sentence of subdivision e. To conclude otherwise would require us to look outside the plain, unambiguous language of the subsection 18(1)(e), which we are prohibited from doing in light of the doctrine of separation of powers and well-settled principles of statutory interpretation.

For the reasons discussed, this Court again orders the dismissal of the FIA's complaint for an order of superintending control.

Complaint dismissed.

NOTES

[1] On February 25, 1999, St. Clair Circuit Judge Robert R. Spillard entered an amended order, indicating that the applicable public act number was inadvertently omitted from the previous order. The court listed the public act number (Public Act 150), and ordered that the remainder of the February 19, 1999, order remain in full force and effect.

[2] M.C.L. § 712A.18, as amended, provides, in pertinent part:

(1) If the court finds that a juvenile concerning whom a petition is filed is not within this chapter, the court shall enter an order dismissing the petition. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (10), if the court finds that a juvenile is within this chapter, the court may enter any of the following orders of disposition that are appropriate for the welfare of the juvenile and society in view of the facts proven and ascertained:

* * *

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, commit the juvenile to a public institution, county facility, institution operated as an agency of the court or county, or agency authorized by law to receive juveniles of similar age, sex, and characteristics. If the juvenile is not a ward of the court, the court shall commit the juvenile to the family independence agency or, if the county is a county juvenile agency, to that county juvenile agency for placement in or commitment to such an institution or facility as the family independence agency or county juvenile agency determines is most appropriate, subject to any initial level of placement the court designates.... [Amended language italicized.]

[3] This Court's order provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

Pursuant to the plain language of M.C.L. § 712A.18(1)(e); M.S.A. § 27.3178(598.18)(1)(e), as amended by 1998 PA 478, the authority to direct placement of a juvenile offender is generally dependent in the first instance on whether the juvenile is a ward of the court. Pursuant to § 18(1) and the first sentence of subsection 18(1)(e), "the court" may "commit the juvenile to a public institution, county facility, institution operated as an agency of the court or county, or agency authorized by law to receive juveniles of similar age, sex, and characteristics." However, "[i]f the juvenile is not a ward of the court, the court shall commit the juvenile to the family independence agency ... for placement in or commitment to such an institution or facility as the family independence agency ... determines is most appropriate, subject to any initial level of placement the court designates" (emphasis added). In the present matter, the family court's February 19, 1999, supplemental dispositional order expressly stated "That [MJK] be continued as a temporary ward of this Court." Accordingly, while the Family Independence Agency may have statutory authority to direct placement of certain juvenile offenders who are not wards of the court, it has no such authority over juveniles who are wards of the court, such as juvenile [MJK]. [FIA v. St Clair Family Court Judge, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered February 8, 2000 (Docket No. 219442) (emphasis in original).]

[4] Subsection 18(1)(d) provides a court specific authority to commit a juvenile to the FIA. That subdivision states, in part, that a court may issue an order to "place the juvenile in or commit the juvenile to a private institution or agency approved or licensed by the department of consumer and industry services for the care of juveniles of similar age, sex, and characteristics." M.C.L. § 712A.18(1)(d).

[5] Given that the text of subsection 18(1)(e) appears not to contemplate the present situation, we urge the Legislature to consider whether it intends for the court or the FIA to have ultimate authority in placing a juvenile when the court continues wardship and commits the juvenile to the FIA. We note that the FIA contends the present situation is prevalent and the absence of a specific directive in these circumstances has led to significant practical problems. According to the FIA, court-ordered placements have the problematic effect of "leapfrogging" other juveniles currently on waiting lists to enter certain placement programs.