Care & Protection of Sophie

This is an appeal from a decision of a single justice *101denying relief sought by two children under G. L. c. 211, § 3. The Department of Social Services (department) filed a care and protection petition on October 11, 2006, alleging that the children were at risk of abuse and neglect by their parents. A Juvenile Court judge denied the department’s emergency request, pursuant to G. L. c. 119, § 24, to place the children in its custody pending a hearing. As provided for in G. L. c. 119, § 25, a temporary custody hearing was held on October 16, 2006, with the children present in the court house. A…