In the Interest of J.T. v. Hinds County Youth Court

DICKINSON, Presiding Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. The Hinds County Youth Court found that three-year-old J.T. had been sexually abused by her father, based on a statement she made which could describe either sexual abuse or innocent contact between a father and daughter. Because the State produced no evidence to show that the child’s facially ambiguous statement described abuse, and because the youth-court judge openly and admittedly disregarded the Mississippi Rules of Evidence throughout the adjudication, we reverse and remand.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2. On October 30, 2014, a daycare ■…