Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. G.N.

Opinion

MOSK, J.—

INTRODUCTION

We hold that under the doctrine of disentitlement, mother has forfeited her right to appeal from the juvenile court’s orders because she willfully left the jurisdiction with her children while the Welfare and Institutions Code section 3001 petition was pending and, even though a warrant for her arrest had been recalled, her continued absence from the jurisdiction undermined and frustrated the juvenile court’s ability to implement the dependency law procedures intended to protect and benefit the interests of her children. We therefore dismiss the appeals.

FACTUAL AND…