San Diego County Department of Social Sevices v. Geiselle C.

*802 Opinion

C. appeals a judgment of the juvenile court terminating her parental rights under Welfare and Institutions Code 2 section 366.26 as to her minor daughter Vanessa W. Geiselle contends: (1) the court erred in finding she had not maintained frequent contact with Vanessa and continuing the relationship would not benefit Vanessa; (2) the court erred in failing to order visitation for Geiselle as part of Vanessa’s permanent adoption plan; (3) section 366.26 violates due process by allowing termination of parental rights without a showing of parental unfitness; and (4) section 366.26 violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. We conclude none of these contentions has merit and accordingly affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

On May 25, 1991, San Diego County deputy sheriffs responded to a report of a disturbance at a motel in Lemon Grove where Geiselle and 15-month-old Vanessa were living. Geiselle appeared intoxicated and told the deputies she and her boyfriend had been fighting and she refused to allow him back into the room. Vanessa, who was wearing only a diaper, had bruises on her face and back and smelled of liquor. Vanessa was taken into…