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  "name": "IN THE MATTER OF J.T. (I), J.T. (II), A.J.",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re J.T. (I)",
  "decision_date": "2008-03-04",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:47:52.494477+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judge CALABRIA concurs.",
      "Judge STEPHENS concurs .in separate opinion."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "IN THE MATTER OF J.T. (I), J.T. (II), A.J."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "STEELMAN, Judge.\nWhere no summons has been issued to the juvenile as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1106(a)(5), we must vacate an order terminating parental rights under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 7B for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.\nWhile married to J.J., respondent-mother M.J. (\u201cmother\u201d) gave birth to A.J. in 1999, J.A.T. (\u201cJ.T. II\u201d) in 2003, and J.T.T. (\u201cJ.T. I\u201d) in 2004. A.J., J.T. I, and J.T. II (\u201cminor children\u201d) were removed from their mother\u2019s care in October 2004 pursuant to a non-secure custody order alleging neglect and dependency. On 15 December 2004, the trial court awarded legal and physical custody of the children to Cumberland County Department of Social Services (\u201cDSS\u201d). The minor children were adjudicated dependent in an order entered on 17 October 2005 and neglected and abused in an order entered on 22 December 2005. Although the two younger children were returned on a trial basis to mother\u2019s care during this time, they were again removed in January 2006 for mother\u2019s failure to supervise or to provide proper medical attention. On 31 July 2006, the permanency plan for the minor children was changed from reunification to adoption.\nOn 26 May 2006, following a paternity test, respondent father J.T. (\u201cfather\u201d) was adjudicated to be the father of minor children J.T. I and J.T. II.\nOn 6 October 2006, following mother\u2019s move out-of-state and father\u2019s incarceration, DSS filed a petition to terminate parental rights. On the same date, a summons was issued that named respondent-mother and the fathers, but not the minor children,' as respondents. The trial court terminated respondents\u2019 parental rights by order entered on 24 August 2007. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1110, 7B-1111(a) (2007).\nMother appeals the order terminating her rights as to all three minor children. Father appeals from the same order terminating his parental rights as the biological father of the minor children J.T. I and J.T. II.\nThe question of subject matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time, even in the Supreme Court. When the record clearly shows that subject matter jurisdiction is lacking, the Court will take notice and dismiss the action ex mero motu. Every court necessarily has the inherent judicial power to inquire into, hear and determine questions of its own jurisdiction, whether of law or fact, the decision of which is necessary to determine the questions of its jurisdiction.\nLemmerman v. Williams Oil Co., 318 N.C. 577, 580, 350 S.E.2d 83, 85-86 (1986) (internal citations omitted). The judicial procedure for termination of parental rights includes procedural protections that must be followed to endow-the court with subject matter jurisdiction. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1101 et seq. (2005). In relevant part, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1105(a)(5) requires that a summons be issued to the juvenile, \u201cwho shall be named as a respondent.\u201d Id. (2005).\nThe record reveals that DSS failed to cause to be issued a summons to the juveniles, as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1106(a)(5) (2005). \u201c \u2018In order for a summons to serve as proper notification, it must be issued and served in the manner prescribed by statute.\u2019 \u201d Latham v. Cherry, 111 N.C. App. 871, 874, 433 S.E.2d 478, 481 (1993) (quoting Everhart v. Sowers, 63 N.C. App. 747, 750, 306 S.E.2d 472, 474 (1983)), cert. denied, 335 N.C. 556, 441 S.E.2d 116 (1994).\n\u201cThis Court has recently held that the failure to issue a summons to the juvenile deprives the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction.\u201d In re K.A.D., 187 N.C. App. 502, 504, 653 S.E.2d 427, 428-29 (2007) (citing In re C.T. & R.S., 182 N.C. App. 472, 475, 643 S.E.2d 23, 25 (2007)). We are bound by our prior holdings on this issue. In re Civil Penalty, 324 N.C. 373, 384, 379 S.E.2d 30, 36-37 (1989). We do not reach the assignments of error set forth and argued by the parties to this appeal.\nWe vacate the order terminating parental rights.\nVACATED.\nJudge CALABRIA concurs.\nJudge STEPHENS concurs .in separate opinion.\n. Although the rights of father J.J. were also terminated, he is not a party to the instant appeal.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "STEELMAN, Judge."
      },
      {
        "text": "STEPHENS, Judge,\nconcurring.\nFor the reasons set forth in my concurring opinion in In re A.F.H-G., 189 N.C. App. -, - S.E.2d - (2008), I concur in the result of the opinion of the Court.",
        "type": "concurrence",
        "author": "STEPHENS, Judge,"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Elizabeth Kennedy-Gumee for petitioner-appellee Cumberland County Department of Social Services.",
      "Beth A. Hall, attorney advocate, for appellee Guardian ad Litem.",
      "Richard Croutharmel for respondent-mother.",
      "Peter Wood for respondent-father J. T."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "IN THE MATTER OF J.T. (I), J.T. (II), A.J.\nNo. COA07-1372\n(Filed 4 March 2008)\nTermination of Parental Rights\u2014 subject matter jurisdiction\u2014 failure to issue summons to juveniles\nThe trial court erred by terminating respondents\u2019 parental rights, and the order is vacated based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction, because no summons was issued to the juveniles as required by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-1106(a)(5).\nJudge STEPHENS concurring in the result.\nAppeal by respondent-mother and respondent-father J.T. from order terminating parental rights filed 24 August 2007 by Judge Edward A. Pone in Cumberland County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 18 February 2008.\nElizabeth Kennedy-Gumee for petitioner-appellee Cumberland County Department of Social Services.\nBeth A. Hall, attorney advocate, for appellee Guardian ad Litem.\nRichard Croutharmel for respondent-mother.\nPeter Wood for respondent-father J. T."
  },
  "file_name": "0206-01",
  "first_page_order": 238,
  "last_page_order": 240
}