Bechtel v. Rose in and for Maricopa County

GORDON, Vice Chief Justice.

This special action raises novel and complex questions with regard to grandparents’ rights in the disposition of their parentless grandchildren. The particular issues that we must address are: did the juvenile court commit reversible error by denying the grandmother’s motion to intervene in her grandchild’s dependency hearing; and by denying the grandmother’s petition for appointment as her grandchild’s guardian and conservator?

The factual background giving rise to this case is not in dispute. The infant around whom swirls this controversy was born in March, 1985.…