Contra County Department of Social Services v. Catherine P.

This is an appeal from an order of the juvenile court adjudging Rocco M. a dependent child as described in Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, 1 subdivision (b). Rocco’s mother, Catherine R, challenges the order on the grounds that (1) the court improperly took *817 judicial notice of its file in previous proceedings concerning Rocco; and (2) the evidence was insufficient to support the finding of dependency. We affirm the order.

Facts

In May 1990, the department filed a petition seeking to have Rocco, then 11 years old, declared a dependent child. As later amended, the petition alleged that Rocco was a person described in section 300, subdivision (b), in that “1) The minor’s mother has a history of alcohol and drug abuse problems which interfere with her ability to adequately parent, provide for and supervise the minor, i.e., [1] (a) On or about May 2,1990, the minor was left in the care of a relative who was arrested on that date for possession of heroin and methamphetamines; HQ (b) On or about April 3, 1990, the minor was left in the care of a friend of mother’s who kicked him in the stomach. HQ 2) The minor was a dependent of the Juvenile Court of Contra…