San Diego County Department of Social Services v. Williams

Opinion

BAXTER, J.

In In re B. G. (1974) 11 Cal.3d 679 [114 Cal.Rptr. 444, 523 P.2d 244], this court established an important rule of procedure for child *71custody and dependency cases. We held that one who is not the child’s parent or legal custodian, but who has become a “de facto parent” by assuming that daily role over substantial time, may be privileged to participate as a party to the court proceedings. We must now decide whether a nonparent may attain this privilege in proceedings which have adjudged a minor to be a juvenile court dependent because of sexual or other serious physical abuse…