IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA23-1053
Filed 18 June 2024
Guilford County, Nos. 19JT506–509, 21JT523–524
IN THE MATTER OF:
J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
Appeal by respondent-mother from an order terminating her parental rights,
entered 3 July 2023 by Judge William B. Davis in Guilford County District Court.
Heard in the Court of Appeals 28 May 2024.
Peter Wood, for mother respondent-appellant.
Mercedes O. Chut, for petitioner-appellee Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services.
Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, by A. Grant Simpkins, for guardians ad litem.
FLOOD, Judge.
Respondent-Mother appeals from the trial court’s order terminating her
parental rights in Jack, Ramona, Gary, Rachel, Raya, and Regina (collectively, “the
children”).1 Respondent-Mother’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief with this Court
in which he identifies two issues as arguably supporting appeal: whether the trial
court prejudicially erred when it found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights, and whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining it
was in the children’s best interests to terminate Respondent-Mother’s parental
1 Pseudonyms are used to protect the identities of the minor children pursuant to N.C.R. App.
P. 42. IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
Opinion of the Court
rights. Upon our independent review of the Record, we find no merit in these
arguments and therefore affirm the trial court’s order. Counsel also argues, however,
the trial court prejudicially erred in conducting the termination hearing where it did
not have subject matter jurisdiction over Raya. Under the scope of this appeal, we
conclude this issue is not properly before this Court, and we therefore dismiss this
argument.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
On 30 December 2019, the Guilford County Department of Social Services
(“DSS”) filed petitions alleging the following: (1) Jack was neglected, dependent, and
abused; and (2) Ramona, Gary, and Rachel were neglected and dependent. On 21
June 2021, the trial court adjudicated Jack to be abused, neglected, and dependent,
and adjudicated Gary, Rachel, and Ramona to be neglected and dependent. On 30
June 2021, DSS filed petitions alleging the twins, Raya and Regina, to be neglected
and dependent. On 20 August 2021, the court adjudicated Raya and Regina to be
neglected and dependent.
On 29 August 2022, DSS filed a petition to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights in the children. Following a hearing on 11 April 2023, the trial court
found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s rights in the children, and found
this termination to be in the best interests of the children. The trial court entered its
termination of parental rights (“TPR”) order on 3 July 2023. Respondent-Mother
-2- IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
timely appealed and, pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate
Procedure, Respondent-Mother’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief with this Court.
II. Jurisdiction
This Court has jurisdiction to review this appeal from a final order issued by a
district court terminating Respondent-Mother’s parental rights pursuant to N.C.
Gen. Stat. §§ 7A-27(b) and 7B-1001(a)(7) (2023).
III. Analysis
Counsel has identified in the no-merit brief two issues that arguably support
appeal while conceding that they likely lack appellate merit: (1) whether the trial
court prejudicially erred when it found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights, and (2) whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining
it was in the children’s best interests to terminate Respondent-Mother’s parental
rights.
Counsel for an appellant may file a no-merit brief with this Court where
counsel “concludes that there is no issue of merit on which to base an argument for
relief,” and “[i]n the no-merit brief, counsel must identify any issues in the record on
appeal that arguably support the appeal and must state why those issues lack merit
or would not alter the ultimate result.” N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). When a no-merit brief
is filed pursuant to Rule 3.1(e), this Court will conduct an “independent review . . . of
the issues identified therein” to see if they have potential merit. In re K.M.S., 380
N.C. 56, 59, 867 S.E.2d 868, 870 (2022) (citation and internal quotation marks
-3- IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
omitted); see also In re Z.R., 378 N.C. 92, 98, 859 S.E.2d 180, 184 (2021) (“When a
parent’s appellate counsel files a no-merit brief on his or her client’s behalf pursuant
to N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e), this Court reviews the issues that are identified in that brief
to see if they have potential merit.” (citation omitted)). Where this Court determines
the proposed issues are lacking in merit, the correct disposition is to affirm the trial
court’s TPR order. See In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870 (“Having
reviewed the two issues identified by counsel in the no-merit brief, we are satisfied
the trial court’s order terminating respondent’s parental rights is supported by clear,
cogent, and convincing evidence and is based on proper legal grounds. Accordingly,
we affirm the trial court’s [TPR] order[.]”)
Upon our independent review of the Record, we find no merit in either of
counsel’s two identified claims; we therefore affirm the trial court’s TPR order. See
In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870; see also In re Z.R., 378 N.C. at 98,
859 S.E.2d at 184.
Counsel has also raised in the no-merit brief, however, an issue that he claims
is meritorious: he argues the trial court prejudicially erred in conducting the
termination hearing where it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over Raya. An
appellant brief filed pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) permits an appellant’s counsel only to
“identify any issues in the record on appeal that arguably support the appeal[,]”
however, and counsel’s introduction of this allegedly meritorious issue contravenes
the scope of this appeal and the scope of our appellate review. N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e)
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(emphasis added); see also In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870. Further,
in a Rule 3.1(e) no-merit brief, counsel for an appellant is to explain why the identified
issues “lack merit or would not alter the ultimate result[,]” and Respondent-Mother’s
counsel has included no such explanation as to this issue. N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). It is
not the duty of this Court to devise appellate arguments, and we will not do so here.
See Gyger v. Clement, 263 N.C. App. 118, 126, 823 S.E.2d 400, 406 (2018) (“It is not
the job of this Court to create an argument for an appellant.”); see also N.C.R. App.
P. 28(b)(6) (“Issues not presented in a party’s brief . . . will be taken as abandoned.”).
This argument contesting the trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction over Raya is
therefore dismissed.
We note that DSS has expressed concern in its brief that Respondent-Mother
has not received her right to meaningful appellate review, as it is “unclear how [she]
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA23-1053
Filed 18 June 2024
Guilford County, Nos. 19JT506–509, 21JT523–524
IN THE MATTER OF:
J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
Appeal by respondent-mother from an order terminating her parental rights,
entered 3 July 2023 by Judge William B. Davis in Guilford County District Court.
Heard in the Court of Appeals 28 May 2024.
Peter Wood, for mother respondent-appellant.
Mercedes O. Chut, for petitioner-appellee Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services.
Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, by A. Grant Simpkins, for guardians ad litem.
FLOOD, Judge.
Respondent-Mother appeals from the trial court’s order terminating her
parental rights in Jack, Ramona, Gary, Rachel, Raya, and Regina (collectively, “the
children”).1 Respondent-Mother’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief with this Court
in which he identifies two issues as arguably supporting appeal: whether the trial
court prejudicially erred when it found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights, and whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining it
was in the children’s best interests to terminate Respondent-Mother’s parental
1 Pseudonyms are used to protect the identities of the minor children pursuant to N.C.R. App.
P. 42. IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
Opinion of the Court
rights. Upon our independent review of the Record, we find no merit in these
arguments and therefore affirm the trial court’s order. Counsel also argues, however,
the trial court prejudicially erred in conducting the termination hearing where it did
not have subject matter jurisdiction over Raya. Under the scope of this appeal, we
conclude this issue is not properly before this Court, and we therefore dismiss this
argument.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
On 30 December 2019, the Guilford County Department of Social Services
(“DSS”) filed petitions alleging the following: (1) Jack was neglected, dependent, and
abused; and (2) Ramona, Gary, and Rachel were neglected and dependent. On 21
June 2021, the trial court adjudicated Jack to be abused, neglected, and dependent,
and adjudicated Gary, Rachel, and Ramona to be neglected and dependent. On 30
June 2021, DSS filed petitions alleging the twins, Raya and Regina, to be neglected
and dependent. On 20 August 2021, the court adjudicated Raya and Regina to be
neglected and dependent.
On 29 August 2022, DSS filed a petition to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights in the children. Following a hearing on 11 April 2023, the trial court
found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s rights in the children, and found
this termination to be in the best interests of the children. The trial court entered its
termination of parental rights (“TPR”) order on 3 July 2023. Respondent-Mother
-2- IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
timely appealed and, pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate
Procedure, Respondent-Mother’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief with this Court.
II. Jurisdiction
This Court has jurisdiction to review this appeal from a final order issued by a
district court terminating Respondent-Mother’s parental rights pursuant to N.C.
Gen. Stat. §§ 7A-27(b) and 7B-1001(a)(7) (2023).
III. Analysis
Counsel has identified in the no-merit brief two issues that arguably support
appeal while conceding that they likely lack appellate merit: (1) whether the trial
court prejudicially erred when it found grounds to terminate Respondent-Mother’s
parental rights, and (2) whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining
it was in the children’s best interests to terminate Respondent-Mother’s parental
rights.
Counsel for an appellant may file a no-merit brief with this Court where
counsel “concludes that there is no issue of merit on which to base an argument for
relief,” and “[i]n the no-merit brief, counsel must identify any issues in the record on
appeal that arguably support the appeal and must state why those issues lack merit
or would not alter the ultimate result.” N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). When a no-merit brief
is filed pursuant to Rule 3.1(e), this Court will conduct an “independent review . . . of
the issues identified therein” to see if they have potential merit. In re K.M.S., 380
N.C. 56, 59, 867 S.E.2d 868, 870 (2022) (citation and internal quotation marks
-3- IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
omitted); see also In re Z.R., 378 N.C. 92, 98, 859 S.E.2d 180, 184 (2021) (“When a
parent’s appellate counsel files a no-merit brief on his or her client’s behalf pursuant
to N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e), this Court reviews the issues that are identified in that brief
to see if they have potential merit.” (citation omitted)). Where this Court determines
the proposed issues are lacking in merit, the correct disposition is to affirm the trial
court’s TPR order. See In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870 (“Having
reviewed the two issues identified by counsel in the no-merit brief, we are satisfied
the trial court’s order terminating respondent’s parental rights is supported by clear,
cogent, and convincing evidence and is based on proper legal grounds. Accordingly,
we affirm the trial court’s [TPR] order[.]”)
Upon our independent review of the Record, we find no merit in either of
counsel’s two identified claims; we therefore affirm the trial court’s TPR order. See
In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870; see also In re Z.R., 378 N.C. at 98,
859 S.E.2d at 184.
Counsel has also raised in the no-merit brief, however, an issue that he claims
is meritorious: he argues the trial court prejudicially erred in conducting the
termination hearing where it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over Raya. An
appellant brief filed pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) permits an appellant’s counsel only to
“identify any issues in the record on appeal that arguably support the appeal[,]”
however, and counsel’s introduction of this allegedly meritorious issue contravenes
the scope of this appeal and the scope of our appellate review. N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e)
-4- IN RE: J.B., R.B., G.B., R.B., R.B., R.B.
(emphasis added); see also In re K.M.S., 380 N.C. at 59, 867 S.E.2d at 870. Further,
in a Rule 3.1(e) no-merit brief, counsel for an appellant is to explain why the identified
issues “lack merit or would not alter the ultimate result[,]” and Respondent-Mother’s
counsel has included no such explanation as to this issue. N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). It is
not the duty of this Court to devise appellate arguments, and we will not do so here.
See Gyger v. Clement, 263 N.C. App. 118, 126, 823 S.E.2d 400, 406 (2018) (“It is not
the job of this Court to create an argument for an appellant.”); see also N.C.R. App.
P. 28(b)(6) (“Issues not presented in a party’s brief . . . will be taken as abandoned.”).
This argument contesting the trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction over Raya is
therefore dismissed.
We note that DSS has expressed concern in its brief that Respondent-Mother
has not received her right to meaningful appellate review, as it is “unclear how [she]
could know of her right to address the purported jurisdictional issue[.]” As our
Supreme Court held in In re L.E.M., however, while Rule 3.1(e) “requires that parents
be advised by counsel of their opportunity to file a pro se brief, Rule 3.1[(e)] neither
states nor implies that appellate review of the issues set out in the no-merit brief
hinges on whether a pro se brief is actually filed by a parent.” 372 N.C. 396, 402, 831
S.E.2d 341, 345 (2019); see also N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e) (“In the no-merit brief, . . . .
[c]ounsel must inform the appellant in writing that the appellant may file a pro se
brief and that the pro se brief is due within thirty days after the date of filing the no-
merit brief. Counsel must attach evidence of this communication to the no-merit
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brief.”). As to this holding, the Supreme Court provided that it “furthers the
significant interest of ensuring that orders depriving parents of their fundamental
right to parenthood are given meaningful appellate review.” In re L.E.M., 372 N.C.
at 402, 831 S.E.2d at 345.
Here, Respondent-Mother’s counsel, prior to filing the current no-merit brief
and in accordance with the requirements of Rule 3.1(e), sent Respondent-Mother a
letter informing her of his intent to file this brief, as well as apprising Respondent-
Mother of her right to file a pro se brief with this Court. Evidence of this
communication is attached to the no-merit brief. See N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). Further,
while Respondent-Mother had the right to file a pro se brief supplemental to a Rule
3.1(e) no-merit brief, no such right exists as to a Rule 28 brief involving issues of
alleged merit, and the allegedly meritorious issue here was improperly included in
counsel’s no-merit brief. See N.C.R. App. P. 28 (governing “Briefs—Function and
Content”); see also N.C.R. App. P. 3.1(e). As such, Respondent-Mother was not
deprived of her right to meaningful appellate review. See In re L.E.M., 372 N.C. at
402, 831 S.E.2d at 345.
IV. Conclusion
Upon our independent review of the two claims Respondent-Mother’s counsel
has identified as arguably supporting appeal, we find no merit to either of these
claims, and accordingly affirm the trial court’s order. Further, counsel’s remaining
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claim in his no-merit brief is in contravention of the scope of this appeal and our
appellate review, and we therefore dismiss this claim.
AFFIRMED in part, and DISMISSED in part.
Judges GRIFFIN and THOMPSON concur.
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