In Re SJ

Carl Fabian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minors.

Appellant C.K. (mother) contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion in summarily denying her Welfare and Institutions Code [1] section 388 petition regarding visitation with her daughters, S.J. and D.J. (the children). In a supplemental opening brief, mother argues that the court improperly delegated to the children's legal guardian the power to decide if she could visit the children. We affirm. [2]

The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (the department) removed the children from mother's custody on August 21, 1995. At that time, S.J. was two years old and D.J. was one year old. The juvenile court detained them in the foster home of T.T. The court ordered reunification services, but then terminated them on November 11, 1997. The court later granted a section 388 petition and allowed the children to return to mother's home under a family maintenance service plan. However, on March 31, 1999, the department removed the children from mother's care due to her having a psychotic episode that placed them at risk.

On January 3, 2000, the court appointed T.T. legal guardian…