County of Marin v. County of Mendocino

Although juvenile court proceedings are before us, these appeals do not turn upon the rights or interests of the juveniles or their parents. Rather, the dispute is solely among counties seeking determination of which shall bear the administrative and financial burden of wardships. Mendocino County appeals from orders of the juvenile courts of Marin and Sonoma Counties transferring to it the Grimmer and James Smith wardships. These appeals have been consoli *842 dated. Sonoma and Mendocino Counties have stipulated that disposition of the appeal in the Jerry Smith wardship shall follow that in the two consolidated appeals.

In each of the two consolidated appeals, wardship was adjudged upon findings of violation of law (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 602). Each minor’s parents had been divorced, and the mother of each had been awarded custody by the divorce court. Upon adjudication of wardship, each minor had been placed on probation in the home of the mother, subject to supervision by the juvenile probation officer. In each case, the minor’s adjustment was found unsatisfactory, and each was removed from the custody of the parent and placed in that of the probation officer for placement in a…