Amy S. v. State, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children's Services

WINFREE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

A mother appeals the superior court's decision adjudicating her child as a child in need of aid, contending that the court relied in part on the record from her previous custody proceeding without giving her prior notice. The mother argues that by not giving her notice, the court violated her due process rights. Relying on cases involving judicial bias, she then claims that the superior court's due process violation warrants automatic reversal of the court's adjudication finding, or, alternatively, reversal on the basis that the error was not harmless.

We…