In re D.T. CA3

BACKGROUND

In April 2024, the juvenile court issued detention orders removing minor from his parents’ custody and placing him in the care of his maternal grandmother (grandmother). No reporter’s transcript of the hearing appears in the record, but the court’s minute order states: “Minor(s) not to leave the State without a Court Order.” At the May 2024 jurisdictional and dispositional hearing, the juvenile court adjudged minor a dependent and removed him from his parents’ custody. Again, no reporter’s transcript of the hearing appears in the record, but the minute order reflects that the court authorized grandmother to obtain a passport for minor. The order did not mention any specific travel plans. Oropeza, a social worker with the San Joaquin Human Services Agency (Agency), was subsequently assigned to the case. At about 3:00 pm on July 3, 2024, Oropeza filed an ex parte travel request asking that grandmother be permitted to take minor to Mexico on July 6, 2024 and stay until July 29, 2024.2 The request, which was signed under penalty of perjury, stated that it had been discussed with the parties and that there was no opposition to it. The request and its accompanying…