Riverside County Department of Public Social Services v. Ezequiel B.

I. INTRODUCTION

Mandy D. (mother) and Ezequiel B. (father), the parents of Harmony B. (bom in March 2003), appeal from an order of the juvenile court terminating their parental rights under Welfare and Institutions Code 1 section 366.26. Ruth B. (grandmother), the paternal grandmother of Harmony, also appeals from the order.

Father argues that the juvenile court (1) failed to inform him of his right to file a writ petition challenging the findings and orders at the referral hearing, and that failure was a violation of due process allowing the court to review those findings and orders in the instant appeal; (2) erred in denying reunification services; and (3) abused its discretion in denying his request for a continuance of the section 366.26 hearing. Mother joins father’s contentions. Grandmother argues that the juvenile court abused its discretion by refusing to continue the section 366.26 hearing and in ordering that the foster parents’ adoption application be given preference over all other applications.

We conclude that because the juvenile court failed to give father notice of his right to file a writ petition to challenge the findings and orders at the referral…