Termination Of Parental Rights Of S.j.a.g.v. Cynthia Vaughn v. Dshs

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: December 12, 2016
• Docket: 74150-1
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In the Matter of the Dependency of No. 74150-1-1 (consolidated with Nos. S.J.A.G.V. 74153-5-1, 74152-7-1, and DOB: 10/14/2013 74151-9-1)

J.A.H. DIVISION ONE DOB: 6/12/2007 UNPUBLISHED OPINION J.A.H J. DOB: 12/28/2003

J.S.C.J. DOB: 12/7/2001

STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES,

Respondent,

v.

CYNTHIA MICHELLE VAUGHN,

Appellant. FILED: December 12, 2016

Appelwick, J. — The trial court terminated the parent-child relationship

between Vaughn and her four children. Vaughn argues that the trial court

violated the appearance of fairness doctrine by assisting the State at trial. She

also argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel when her attorney No. 74150-1-1/2

failed to object to the admission of evidence that impeached Vaughn's testimony.

We affirm.

FACTS

The State sought termination of the parent-child relationship between

Cynthia Vaughn and her children. Vaughn had long struggled with drug and

alcohol abuse. At the time of the hearing in August 2015, Vaughn had three

separate pending theft charges. Vaughn was also residing with a convicted sex

offender. The trial court found that she had not been playing a meaningful role in

the lives of her four children, who had not lived with her since 2013. It terminated

Vaughn's parent-child relationships, citing her "substance abuse, child neglect,

and bad choice of partners." Vaughn appeals.

DISCUSSION

Vaughn makes two arguments. First, she argues that the trial court

violated the appearance of fairness doctrine by sua sponte reviewing her

declaration regarding a protection order. Second, she argues that she received

ineffective assistance of counsel when her attorney failed to object to the

admissibility of a drug and alcohol evaluation at trial.

I. Appearance of Fairness

Vaughn argues that the trial court's actions violated the appearance of

fairness doctrine. Specifically, Vaughn points to the judge's sua sponte pursuit of

relevant evidence and proposal of theories of admission of evidence. No. 74150-1-1/3

Due process, the appearance of fairness doctrine and canon 2.1(A) of the

Code of Judicial Conduct require a judge to recuse herself if her impartiality may

reasonably be questioned. West v. Wash. Ass'n of County Officials, 162 Wn.

App. 120, 136-37 & n.12, 252 P.3d 406 (2011). Under the appearance of

fairness doctrine, a judicial proceeding is valid only if a reasonably prudent,

disinterested observer would conclude that all parties obtained a fair, impartial,

and neutral hearing. State v. Bilal. 77 Wn. App. 720, 722, 893 P.2d 674 (1999).

The law goes farther than requiring an impartial judge; it also requires that the

judge appear impartial. State v. Madrv, 8 Wn. App. 61, 70, 504 P.2d 1156

(1972).

Vaughn argues that the trial judge violated the appearance of fairness by

referencing documents related to a protection order entered against Vaughn in

another case. Vaughn's husband, Davelle Bridges, sought that protection order

against Vaughn in November 2014. The petition alleged that Vaughn had

threatened and had stolen from Bridges to support her heroin addiction. The

State had successfully moved to admit both the petition for the protection order

and the order itself. During testimony, the State asked Vaughn whether the

protection order remained in place. Vaughn had filed a motion to modify that

protection order in January 2015, but she was uncertain as to the result of that

motion. However, she testified that Bridges had told her that he had removed the

protection order. No. 74150-1-1/4

In an effort to clarify whether Bridges had removed the protection order,

the trial judge, sua sponte, reviewed the docket pertaining to the protection order.

Contrary to Bridges's representations to Vaughn, the protection order was still in

place. The trial judge also found Vaughn's January 2015 declaration in support

of her motion to modify the protection order. Vaughn's declaration contested

Bridges' version of events. In explaining why he sought the declaration, the trial

judge stated,

[Wjhat's missing—and I had just printed—was the—the portion that has the clearer foundation, and that was Ms. Vaughn's response, her motion to modify filed in January in which she sets out her position and makes her own statements about what was alleged and what her—what she believed the situation was. That's the— the clearest foundation, but it's—it's in the—in the really matters of most interest and the most lacking and the hearsay problems [sic].

The trial court then read the declaration aloud. Like Vaughn's testimony,

Vaughn's declaration alleged that the protection order" 'was entered under false

accusations'" by Bridges.

The declaration corroborated Vaughn. But, Vaughn nevertheless objected

to the court's sua sponte actions. In response to the objection, the court stated,

I don't know who assist—who is assisting or isn't. What I want to do is find out what is going on with the family and all the people involved. And, when I was given the cause number for the protection order case and the representation was made that—that Mr. Bridges had sought its recall, I checked on the court file in order to—to ascertain whether that was okay or if there might be a potential problem upon going Nnaudiblel two of them, And what I found was no recall order, but the—this petition to modify, I guess, that Ms. Vaughn filed, but in January, and then nothing since then? Nothing's happened since January, I guess? No. 74150-1-1/5

(Emphasis added.) After Vaughn objected, the court did not read any more

pleadings from the protection order docket, and the declaration was never

admitted as an exhibit.

There is no indication that it reviewed the docket for the purpose of fact-

checking Vaughn. Indeed, Vaughn made no firm statement regarding the status

of the protection order.1 Thus, any investigation of the protection order docket

could not have resulted in a contradiction of Vaughn's testimony. The trial

judge's actions were an effort to verify whether Bridges's statement to Vaughn,

that the order had been quashed, was true. We find no error in verifying the

continued existence of the order.

The trial judge also found and read Vaughn's declaration in that file. He

observed that Vaughn's declaration had the "best foundation" and the least

hearsay issues, presumably compared to the petition and order already admitted.

When this comment raised concerns, the information was read to both parties.

When Vaughn objected, the evidence was not admitted. The file review

terminated. Neither a motion for recusal or mistrial was made. And, Vaughn

does not suggest the trial court relied on the declaration's content or that the

content affected the outcome of the proceeding.

Vaughn seeks to equate this case to State v. Ra, 144 Wn. App. 688, 175

P.3d 609 (2008). The court found "inappropriate the trial court's proposal of

1 Vaughn only stated that Bridges had told her the protection order had been quashed. She did not claim to have actual knowledge about whether the order was quashed or not. No. 74150-1-1/6

theories for the State to use in admitting improper ER 404(b) evidence." Id. at

705. However, the court ultimately reversed on other evidentiary grounds, and

as a result did not directly consider "whether the trial court's violation of the

appearance of impartiality alone would warrant reversal." Id

Even so, this case is distinct from Ra in two key areas. First, the Ra trial

court's statements unquestionably favored the prosecution. Id. But, in the

instant case, the trial court's actions did not appear to substantively favor either

party's position. And, the declaration that the trial court read into the record

actually bolstered Vaughn's credibility by echoing her past testimony. Second,

the holding in Ra was in the context of numerous other statements by the trial

judge that evinced disdain for the defendant. ]d The trial court in Ra stated that

the defendant was a " 'distorted character who lives and breeds violently.' " ]d

At one point, the prosecution stated, " 'I think it is accurate that the reason he

shot [the victim] was to elevate his status among his peers,' " to which the court

responded in agreement:" '[b]ravado, distorted importance.'" Id at 696.

But, in Vaughn's case, the court made only an isolated statement

suggesting that the declaration—which was not clearly prejudicial to either side—

had less hearsay problems than the pleadings offered by the prosecution. It

arose in the context of verifying the continued existence of the protective order.

And, the substance of that declaration ultimately showed that Vaughn had been

consistent in her testimony pertaining to both the protection order and the

termination. The record reflects no actual or apparent bias against Vaughn. An No. 74150-1-1/7

objective viewer would not question the trial court's impartiality. The trial court's

actions did not violate the appearance of fairness doctrine nor Vaughn's due

process rights.

II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Vaughn also argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel at

trial. A parent's right to counsel in termination proceedings is derived from the

constitutional guarantees of due process under the Fourteenth Amendment of

the United States Constitution and article 1, section 3 of the Washington

Constitution. In re Welfare of J.M.. 130 Wn. App. 912, 921, 125 P.3d 245

(2005). Whether a proceeding satisfies due process is a question that we review

de novo. In re Pet, of Fair, 167 Wn.2d 357, 362, 219 P.3d 89 (2009).

To show ineffective assistance of counsel, Vaughn must show deficient

performance and resulting prejudice. State v. Turner, 143 Wn.2d 715, 730, 23 P.3d 499 (2001). A deficient performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness based on consideration of all of the circumstances. State v.

Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 226, 743 P.2d 816 (1987). Scrutiny of counsel's

performance is highly deferential and courts will indulge in a strong presumption of reasonableness. Id at 226. Only in "egregious circumstances," on testimony

central to the State's case, will the failure to object constitute incompetence

justifying reversal. State v. Madison, 53 Wn. App. 754, 763, 770 P.2d 662 (1989). Relatedly, where a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel rests on trial counsel's failure to object, a party must show that an objection would likely No. 74150-1-1/8

have been sustained. State v. Fortun-Cebada, 158 Wn. App. 158, 172, 241 P.3d

800(2010).

Vaughn argues that her counsel should have objected to the admission of

a drug and alcohol evaluation that contradicted her testimony about her most

recent heroin usage. The evaluation had three primary components. It

contained (1) a diagnosis, (2) a summary of relevant personal history based on

statements made by Vaughn to the counselor at the treatment facility, and (3) the

counselor's subjective impressions and recommendations. Vaughn argues that

such evidence is clearly hearsay, and it was therefore deficient for Vaughn's

attorney not to object. Vaughn further argues that the evaluation was not

admissible under the business records exception to the prohibition on hearsay.

Both the statements by Vaughn and the document containing them must be

nonhearsay or qualify for a hearsay exception to be admissible. ER 805.

A statement in which the party has manifested an adoption or belief in its

truth is exempt from exclusion as hearsay as a party admission. ER 801(d)(2).

Vaughn made the statement about her last usage to the counselor, and it

therefore qualifies as a party admission and was admissible.

Documents qualify for the business records hearsay exception when they

are created in the ordinary course of business and there is no evidence of motive

to falsify. State v. Ziegler, 114 Wn.2d 533, 537-38, 789 P.2d 79 (1990); RCW

5.45.020. Here, a representative of the treatment organization testified that with

respect to patients' statements about past use, "we write down what the client

8 No. 74150-1-1/9

says during that interview." She also testified that the evaluation was created

and maintained in the ordinary course of business.

Vaughn argues that the entire document is not admissible as a business

record because it contained the counselor's "subjective impressions and

observations and applies her training, skill, and discretion to make

recommendations about treatment." But, the portion of the document that

contained the statement about Vaughn's last drug usage was not in the

subjective assessment section of the document. Rather, the "last usage"

evidence that prejudiced Vaughn was within the "Substance Abuse and

Treatment History" section. And, in that section, the counselor gave an objective

summary of what Vaughn had told her. This section gave no subjective analysis

of Vaughn's addiction problems. Therefore, the patient history portion of the

evaluation, including the statement regarding last usage, qualified as a business

record exempt from the prohibition on hearsay. The subjective assessment

section appearing later in the document would have been subject to redaction if

requested, but would not have prevented the history portion of the business

record from being admitted. Vaughn's attorney did not perform deficiently by

failing to object to its admission.

Because we have determined that the portions of the evaluation pertaining

to last usage were admissible, we need not address whether counsel's

performance prejudiced Vaughn. State v. Fredrick, 45 Wn. App. 916, 923, 729

P.2d 56 (1986) ("The reviewing court need not address both prongs of the tests if No. 74150-1-1/10

the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one prong."). We hold that

Vaughn did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel.

Affirmed.

WE CONCUR:

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