Daniel G. v. Superior Court CA5

DISCUSSION

Father Lacks Standing to Challenge Order Terminating Mother’s Reunification Services “Standing to challenge an adverse ruling is not established merely because a parent takes a position on an issue that affects the minor [citation]; nor can a parent raise the minor’s best interest as a basis for standing [citation]. Without a showing that a parent’s personal rights are affected by a ruling, the parent does not establish standing.” (In re D.S. (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 671, 674 (D.S.); see Code Civ. Proc., § 902 [only an “aggrieved” party may appeal].) A personal interest in a judgment does not confer standing. “Although standing to appeal is construed liberally, and doubts are resolved in its favor, only a person aggrieved by a decision may appeal. [Citations.] An aggrieved person, for this purpose, is one whose rights or interests are injuriously affected by the decision in an immediate and substantial way, and not as a nominal or remote consequence of the decision.” (In re K.C. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 231, 236; In re Joshua S. (1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 147, 150 [standing requires a legally cognizable interest, i.e., one must be injuriously affected by a ruling in an immediate,…