Care & Protection of Valerie

A mother of five children makes a two-fold appeal: (1) from the adjudications that her children were in need of care and protection pursuant to G. L. c. 119, § 24 (1986 ed.), and (2) from the allowance of the petitions to dispense with consent to the adoption of these children under G. L. c. 210, § 3 (1986 ed.). A judge of the District Court Department was authorized to hear the petitions by the Chief Administrative Justice of the Trial Court acting under the authority of G. L. c. 210, § 3 (b). See Adoption of Emily, 25 Mass. App. Ct. 579, 581 n.3 (1988). We transferred the case to this court…