Summary
The Louisiana First Circuit granted a father's supervisory writ application and remanded a child-in-need-of-care proceeding to the district court. The court directed the district court to grant the father an appeal from the judgment changing the case plan goal, concluding that the judgment was appealable under Louisiana Children's Code article 700.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the district court's judgment changing the case plan goal in a child-in-need-of-care proceeding was appealable.
- Whether the appellate court should remand with instructions for the district court to grant an appeal based on the father's notice of intent to seek supervisory writs.
Holdings
- A district court judgment ordering a change in the case plan goal in a child-in-need-of-care proceeding is an appealable judgment.
- The writ application was granted for the limited purpose of remanding the matter with instructions for the district court to grant J. S. an appeal pursuant to his notice of intent to seek supervisory writs.
Key quotations
“The district court's November 10, 2025 judgment which ordered a change in the case plan goal in this child in need of care proceeding is an appealable judgment.” (at 1)
“Thus, the writ application is granted for the limited purpose of remanding this matter to the district court with instructions to grant an appeal to relator, J. S., pursuant to his notice of intent to seek supervisory writs.” (at 1)
Factual background
This case arose from a child-in-need-of-care proceeding involving J. S., the father of M. S. The district court's November 10, 2025 judgment ordered a change in the case plan goal.
Procedural history
The Twenty-First Judicial District Court for Livingston Parish entered a November 10, 2025 judgment ordering a change in the case plan goal. J. S. filed a notice of intent to seek supervisory writs. The Louisiana First Circuit held that the judgment was appealable and remanded with instructions to grant an appeal pursuant to that notice.
Remand instructions
Remand to the district court for the limited purpose of granting J. S. an appeal pursuant to his notice of intent to seek supervisory writs. Include a copy of the appellate court's order in the appellate record.