State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Gillman

This is a state’s appeal from the juvenile court’s dismissal of petitions alleging that respondents’ children were within the jurisdiction of the court. The issue is whether the juvenile court properly dismissed the petitions following a shelter care hearing but before an adjudicatory hearing on the merits. We reverse.

On August 15, 1985, four children were removed from the home of the Gillmans on the basis of allegations that their welfare was endangered. Petitions were filed on August 19, 1985, alleging that each child was within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court because of physical and…