In re K.R. CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

This appeal arises out of the juvenile dependency proceedings relating to K.R. and H.R., born in June 2010 and September 2017, respectively. B.R. is the mother of both children. Non-party R.J. is H.R.’s father and D.O. (father) is K.R.’s father. Before this case was initiated, the children were in mother’s care. In August 2022, the juvenile court exercised jurisdiction over the children under Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 300, subdivisions (a) and (b). Unlike H.R., who was placed with her parents, the court removed K.R. from mother, declined to place K.R. with father per his request as a non-offending noncustodial parent under section 361.2, subdivision (a), and placed K.R. with her maternal grandparents. On appeal, mother contends the jurisdictional findings are unsupported by substantial evidence and, therefore, subject to reversal. For this reason, and because father was non-offending, she argues the dispositional order pertaining to K.R. must also be reversed. Father joins mother’s arguments. Alternatively, he asserts the portion of the dispositional order placing K.R. with her maternal grandparents must be reversed, as the record lacks sufficient…