Fresno County Department of Social Services v. Irene H.

Introduction

A Fresno County juvenile referee found three children dependents under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300. The complaint was premised *401 upon allegations of sexual abuse of the two daughters by the father and physical abuse of all three children by the mother. Ms. Irene H., the mother, raises two errors on appeal.

First, the referee denied Ms. H.’s motion for continuance through her court-appointed attorney with the public defender’s office. Counsel represented that Ms. H. had just received a notice of the hearing the day before and could not reach Fresno from Los Angeles.

Second, the referee made his findings based solely on child welfare worker reports consisting of double hearsay statements allegedly made by the children.

Ms. H. has been living in Los Angeles County throughout the hearings and the appeal. Two months after she perfected the appeal, the referee transferred the case to Los Angeles County. This court requested further briefing on the issues of whether we still retain jurisdiction and venue after the referee’s transfer order.

Facts and Proceedings Below

On August 22, 1985, the People filed dependency petitions against the parents…