Department of Human Services v. D. W. W.

In this juvenile dependency case, father appeals a judgment of jurisdiction and disposition, challenging the juvenile court’s requirement that father undergo a psychological evaluation. He argues that the evaluation requirement does not bear a rational relationship to the basis for jurisdiction, to wit: father’s substance abuse interfered with his ability to safely parent his child.

If there is no “rational relationship” between the requirement to undergo a psychological evaluation and the basis the court found for taking jurisdiction, the court does not have authority to order the evaluation.…