In re Chelsea L. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

Chelsea is the mother of four children. In October 2023, the San Diego

Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a petition under Welfare

and Institutions Code1 section 300, subdivision (b), seeking to declare the

four children dependents of the juvenile court.

On November 28, 2023, the juvenile court held a jurisdiction and

disposition hearing, where the court found the allegations of the petition true,

removed the children from Chelsea’s custody and placed them with their

presumed father. The court ordered the Agency to provide presumed father

with family maintenance services and Chelsea with enhancement services.

At the time, Chelsea was represented by retained counsel, Samuel Sue.

Chelsea claims neither the juvenile court nor Sue informed her of her right to

appeal the jurisdictional and dispositional orders. And the court’s minute

Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 order does not state the court advised Chelsea of her right to appeal its

findings and orders.

Chelsea asked Sue when she could appeal the jurisdictional and

dispositional orders. Sue told her “it was not the correct time”…