In re S.A. CA2/7

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2

The dependency case involving Samuel stems from a petition filed by the Los Angeles County Department of Children

1 Further references to code sections are to the Welfare and Institutions Code, unless otherwise stated. We recount only those facts and portions of the procedural history that are pertinent to the issues before us. Extensive discussions of the factual and procedural history, pre- and post- disposition, can be found in the earlier decisions In re Samuel A. (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 1; In re Samuel A. (2021) 69 Cal.App.5th 67; and In re Samuel A. (Nov. 14, 2022, B316997, B317751, and B318877 [nonpub. opn.]); see also In re Samuel A. (Dec. 6, 2021, B312480 [nonpub. opn.]) and In re Samuel A. (Dec. 6, 2021, B310032 [nonpub. opn.]).

2 and Family Services (DCFS) on January 16, 2019, when Samuel was approximately two and a half years old. The case spans over five years of proceedings, during which time Patricia had at least 10 different attorneys and filed 13 appeals or petitions for writ relief, not including the three appeals before us now. On March 20, 2019, the juvenile court took jurisdiction over Samuel pursuant to section 300,…