In the Interest of J. J., a Child

Court of Appeals of Georgia

In the Interest of J. J., a Child

DecidedSeptember 30, 2025

DocketA26D0105

StatusPublished

This text of In the Interest of J. J., a Child (In the Interest of J. J., a Child) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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In the Interest of J. J., a Child, (Ga. Ct. App. 2025).

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Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ September 30, 2025

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26D0105. IN THE INTEREST OF J. J., A CHILD.

Following a hearing at which Ronalda Fox was represented by counsel, the juvenile court entered an order terminating Fox’s parental rights to her child J. J. on August 20, 2025. Fox filed this pro se application for discretionary review on September 23, 2025. We lack jurisdiction. To be timely, a discretionary application must be filed within 30 days of entry of the order to be appealed. OCGA § 5-6-35 (d); Hill v. State, 204 Ga. App. 582, 583 (420 SE2d 393) (1992). This statutory deadline is jurisdictional, and we cannot accept an application for appeal not made in compliance with OCGA § 5-6-35 (d). Boyle v. State, 190 Ga. App. 734, 734 (380 SE2d 57) (1989). As Fox filed her application 34 days after entry of the termination order, the application is untimely and is hereby DISMISSED. However, Fox is informed that a juvenile court may grant an out-of-time application if a parent’s appellate due process rights were frustrated by ineffective assistance of counsel. See In the Interest of B. R. F., 299 Ga. 294, 298-299 (788 SE2d 416) (2016); In the Interest of M. R. S., __ Ga. App. __, __ (2) (918 SE2d 829), Case No. A24A0990, slip op. at 3-5 (July 18, 2025). This determination must be made by the juvenile court in the first instance. In the Interest of B. R. F., 299 Ga. at 299.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 09/30/2025 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.

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Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ September 30, 2025

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26D0105. IN THE INTEREST OF J. J., A CHILD.

Following a hearing at which Ronalda Fox was represented by counsel, the juvenile court entered an order terminating Fox’s parental rights to her child J. J. on August 20, 2025. Fox filed this pro se application for discretionary review on September 23, 2025. We lack jurisdiction. To be timely, a discretionary application must be filed within 30 days of entry of the order to be appealed. OCGA § 5-6-35 (d); Hill v. State, 204 Ga. App. 582, 583 (420 SE2d 393) (1992). This statutory deadline is jurisdictional, and we cannot accept an application for appeal not made in compliance with OCGA § 5-6-35 (d). Boyle v. State, 190 Ga. App. 734, 734 (380 SE2d 57) (1989). As Fox filed her application 34 days after entry of the termination order, the application is untimely and is hereby DISMISSED. However, Fox is informed that a juvenile court may grant an out-of-time application if a parent’s appellate due process rights were frustrated by ineffective assistance of counsel. See In the Interest of B. R. F., 299 Ga. 294, 298-299 (788 SE2d 416) (2016); In the Interest of M. R. S., __ Ga. App. __, __ (2) (918 SE2d 829), Case No. A24A0990, slip op. at 3-5 (July 18, 2025). This determination must be made by the juvenile court in the first instance. In the Interest of B. R. F., 299 Ga. at 299.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 09/30/2025 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.

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