In re R.Z. CA3

BACKGROUND

On December 8, 2020, the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (Department) filed a section 300, subdivision (b) petition on behalf of the then 10-month-old minor based on mother’s history of untreated substance abuse and father’s untreated anger management problems that impaired their judgment and ability to care for the child. The minor was detained and placed with the maternal grandmother. The juvenile court appointed counsel for mother and father and ordered supervised visitation. It also explained the process to both parents and answered father’s questions. Both mother and father agreed that mother had a drug problem and father had an anger management problem, although father claimed he naturally spoke loudly and denied cursing at and sending argumentative texts to social workers. Father began courses on parenting and anger management. At the February 1, 2021 jurisdiction hearing, father’s counsel indicated they were requesting a contested hearing or trial. Father interjected that he believed it was too early for trial and he wanted to respond to the petition first. The juvenile court explained to father that if he wanted to challenge…