Fresno County Department of Social Services v. Irene H.

Opinion

BALLANTYNE, J.

Introduction

A Fresno County juvenile referee found three children dependents under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300. The complaint was premised *401upon allegations of sexual abuse of the two daughters by the father and physical abuse of all three children by the mother. Ms. Irene H., the mother, raises two errors on appeal.

First, the referee denied Ms. H.’s motion for continuance through her court-appointed attorney with the public defender’s office. Counsel represented that Ms. H. had just received a notice of the hearing the day before and could not reach Fresno…