J.D.W. and T.L. v. The People of the State of Colorado, In the Interest of Minor Child: Z.D.W.

IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 2025 ND 144 In the Matter of the Vacancy in Judgeship No. 4, with Chambers in Devils Lake, Northeast Judicial District No. 20250227 Per Curiam. [¶1] On June 25, 2025, Governor Kelly Armstrong notified the Supreme Court of the retirement of the Honorable Donovan J. Foughty, Judge of the District Court, Northeast Judicial District, effective September 30, 2025. Judge Foughty’s retirement creates a vacancy under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1. [¶2] Under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1, within 90 days of receiving notice of a vacancy, this Court is required to determine whether the office is necessary for effective judicial administration. This Court may, consistent with that determination, order the vacancy filled, order the vacant office transferred to another judicial district in which an additional judge is necessary, or abolish the vacant judicial office, with or without a transfer. [¶3] Under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2, notice of a written consultation with attorneys and judges and other interested persons in the Northeast Judicial District was posted June 30, 2025, on the website of the Supreme Court regarding the vacancy created by Judge Foughty’s retirement in Judgeship No. 4. Written comments on the vacancy were permitted through July 28, 2025. This procedure is sufficient for purposes of the consultation required under N.D.C.C. § 27-05- 02.1. 1 [¶4] Comments were received in favor of retaining this judgeship in its current location from Judge Foughty, an attorney, county commissioners, and a local bar association. No comments or petitions were received to relocate this vacancy. A report containing population and caseload trends, and other criteria identified in Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2, Section 4, was filed July 16, 2025, by the Northeast Judicial District. The State Court Administrator filed weighted caseload statistics for calendar years 2024 and 2025 for the Northeast Judicial District and statewide, with the 2025 data annualized to project totals. [¶5] The Northeast Judicial District is comprised of Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner and Walsh counties. The district has six judges, with one judge chambered in Cavalier-Langdon, one in Bottineau, Grafton, and Rugby, and two judges chambered in Devils Lake. This district does not have a judicial referee. The district has one juvenile treatment court. According to the district’s report, Judgeship No. 4 is responsible for all caseload in Benson and Ramsey counties and may be assigned to any case within the district in which a recusal or demand is filed. [¶6] The population of the counties in the Northeast district decreased one percent from 2022 to 2024. The total case filings for the district is projected to increase one percent in 2024/2025 as compared to 2023/2024. An increase in contract collection case filings is expected. Case filings are expected to slightly decrease in felony and misdemeanor cases. The weighed caseload report shows that the two-year average need for judicial officers in the Northeast Judicial District increased slightly from 4.69 in 2023/2024 to 4.92 in 2024/2025. The report reflects a district overage of 1.08 judicial officers based on the 2024/2025 two- year average. The need for judicial officers for the treatment court is 0.048 judicial officers. [¶7] Under the criteria of Section 4 of N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2, this Court has considered all submissions and its own administrative records on statewide weighted caseload data. 2 [¶8] Based on the record before us, this Court determines this office is necessary for effective judicial administration in its present location. [¶9] IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that Judgeship No. 4 at Devils Lake in the Northeast Judicial District be filled in the manner provided by N.D.C.C. ch. 27- 25. [¶10] Jon J. Jensen, C.J. Daniel J. Crothers Lisa Fair McEvers Jerod E. Tufte Douglas A. Bahr 3

<div data-spec-version="0.0.3dev" data-generated-on="2025-06-22"> <div class="generated-from-iceberg vlex-toc"> <link href="https://doc-stylesheets.vlex.com/ldml-xml.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link> <div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-header header ldml-header content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Header"><p class="ldml-metadata"> 1 </p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party">In re the <span class="ldml-name">Parental Responsibilities Concerning N.M.D.</span></span>, and <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Concerning Gary Lynn Duerksen</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Petitioner</span></span> and <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Sara Rae Hanson</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Respondent</span></span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-cite"><b class="ldml-bold">No. 25SC180</b></span></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"><span class="ldml-court">Supreme Court of Colorado</span>, En Banc</b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-date"><b class="ldml-bold">June 17, 2025</b></span></p></div> <div class="ldml-opinion content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Opinion"><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-specifier="" data-format="title_case_lacks_specifier" data-parsed="true" data-value="Court of Appeals Case No. 24CA1" data-content-heading-label=" Court of Appeals Case No. 24CA1 " data-id="heading_209" id="heading_209"><span data-paragraph-id="209" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="209" data-sentence-id="226" class="ldml-sentence">Court of <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-reftype="unspecified"><span class="ldml-refname">Appeals Case</span> <span class="ldml-cite">No. 24CA1</span></a></span></span> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="264" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="264" data-sentence-id="280" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Petition for Writ</span> of Certiorari DENIED.</span> </p></div></div></div></div> </div> </div>

<div data-spec-version="0.0.3dev" data-generated-on="2025-06-22"> <div class="generated-from-iceberg vlex-toc"> <link href="https://doc-stylesheets.vlex.com/ldml-xml.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link> <div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-header header ldml-header content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Header" data-refglobal="case:gjvpeopleofthestateofcoloradono25sc300june17,2025"><p class="ldml-metadata"> 1 </p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">G.J.</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Petitioner</span></span> </b><b class="ldml-bold"> v. </b><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">The People of the State of Colorado</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Respondent</span></span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> In the Interest of Minor Child: <span class="ldml-party">Y.J.C.</span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-cite"><b class="ldml-bold">No. 25SC300</b></span></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"><span class="ldml-court">Supreme Court of Colorado</span>, En Banc</b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-date"><b class="ldml-bold">June 17, 2025</b></span></p></div> <div class="ldml-casehistory"><p data-paragraph-id="183" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="183" data-sentence-id="200" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Court of Appeals</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_200" data-reftype="reporter"><span class="ldml-cite">Case No. 24CA1695</span></a></span></span> </p></div><div class="ldml-opinion content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Opinion"><p data-paragraph-id="241" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="241" data-sentence-id="257" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Petition for Writ</span> of Certiorari DENIED.</span> </p></div></div></div> </div> </div>

<div data-spec-version="0.0.3dev" data-generated-on="2025-06-22"> <div class="generated-from-iceberg vlex-toc"> <link href="https://doc-stylesheets.vlex.com/ldml-xml.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link> <div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-header header ldml-header content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Header" data-refglobal="case:datvpeopleofthestateofcoloradono25sc301june16,2025"><p class="ldml-metadata"> 1 </p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">D.A.T.</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Petitioner</span></span> </b><b class="ldml-bold"> v. </b><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">The People of the State of Colorado</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Respondent</span></span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> In the Interest of Minor Child: <span class="ldml-party">R.R.</span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-cite"><b class="ldml-bold">No. 25SC301</b></span></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"><span class="ldml-court">Supreme Court of Colorado</span>, En Banc</b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-date"><b class="ldml-bold">June 16, 2025</b></span></p></div> <div class="ldml-casehistory"><p data-paragraph-id="183" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="183" data-sentence-id="200" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Court of Appeals</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-reftype="reporter" data-prop-ids="sentence_200"><span class="ldml-cite">Case No. 24CA1829</span></a></span></span> </p></div><div class="ldml-opinion content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Opinion"><p data-paragraph-id="241" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="241" data-sentence-id="257" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Petition for Writ</span> of Certiorari DENIED.</span> </p></div></div></div> </div> </div>

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA January 2025 Term _____________________ FILED June 6, 2025 No. 23‑698 released at 3:00 p.m. C. CASEY FORBES, CLERK _____________________ SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA IN RE A.F. ___________________________________________________________ Appeal from the Circuit Court of Wood County The Honorable Robert A. Waters, Judge Civil Action No. 21‑JA‑150 VACATED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS _________________________________________________________ Submitted: April 22, 2025 Filed: June 6, 2025 Joseph Munoz, Esq. John B. McCuskey, Esq. Parkersburg, West Virginia Attorney General Counsel for the Petitioners, Kristen E. Ross, Esq. Intervenor Grandparents, P.F. and R.F. Assistant Attorney General Charleston, West Virginia Counsel for the Respondent, Department of Human Services Keith White, Esq. St. Mary’s, West Virginia Guardian Ad Litem for A.F. Michael Farnsworth, Esq. Parkersburg, West Virginia Counsel for the Intervenor Foster Parents, K.B. and M.B. CHIEF JUSTICE WOOTON delivered the Opinion of the Court. JUSTICE TRUMP concurs and reserves the right to file a separate opinion.  SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. “This Court reviews the circuit court's final order and ultimate disposition under an abuse of discretion standard. We review challenges to findings of fact under a clearly erroneous standard; conclusions of law are reviewed de novo.” Syl. Pt. 4, Burgess v. Porterfield, 196 W. Va. 178, 469 S.E.2d 114 (1996). 2. “Questions relating to . . . custody of the children are within the sound discretion of the court and its action with respect to such matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused.” Syl., in part, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W. Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 (1977). 3. “In visitation as well as custody matters, we have traditionally held paramount the best interests of the child.” Syl. Pt. 5, Carter v. Carter, 196 W. Va. 239, 470 S.E.2d 193 (1996). 4. “West Virginia Code § [49‑4‑114(a)(3) (2024)] provides for grandparent preference in determining adoptive placement for a child where parental rights have been terminated and also incorporates a best interests analysis within that determination by including the requirement that the [DHS] find that the grandparents would be suitable adoptive parents prior to granting custody to the grandparents. The statute contemplates that placement with grandparents is presumptively in the best interests i of the child, and the preference for grandparent placement may be overcome only where the record reviewed in its entirety establishes that such placement is not in the best interests of the child.” Syl. Pt. 4, Napoleon S. v. Walker, 217 W. Va. 254, 617 S.E.2d 801 (2005). 5. In denying grandparent placement the circuit court must make detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law demonstrating that it considered the grandparent preference in West Virginia Code § 49-4-114(a)(3) (2024) and determined, based on the record in its entirety, that the preference was overcome by the best interests of the child. ii WOOTON, Chief Justice: Petitioners P.F. and R.F. 1 (“petitioners”) appeal the November 8, 2023, order of the Circuit Court of Wood County denying their motions for visitation and custody with respect to their grandchild A.F., who is the subject of this abuse and neglect proceeding. On appeal, petitioners assert that the circuit court erred by failing to properly apply the grandparent preference expressed in West Virginia Code § 49-4-114(a)(3) (2024) and by denying visitation and placem