Department of Social & Health Services v. Johnson

The juvenile court made an emergency placement of appellant Eric Johnson’s dependent daughters with their maternal grandmother based on a caseworker’s opinion that Johnson should not be considered as a placement option. Johnson asked the court to reconsider the suitability of the placement with the grandmother and raised a substantial question as to the caseworker’s credibility. By refusing to hear the testimony of Johnson and his witnesses at the hearing on his motion for reconsideration, the court failed to accord him the due process provided by statute and local rule. We reverse and remand…