In a California juvenile dependency case, the trial court ordered long-term foster care and continuing protective custody of a baby born in California.
The only problem was that the baby was reportedly removed from the state of California when he was two days old and has since lived in Georgia with his father for more than a year.
The California Court of Appeal reversed because, under the applicable uniform child custody jurisdiction acts, there was no valid basis for California to exercise child custody jurisdiction over the baby and therefore the trial court exceeded its power.
The appellate ruling was quite correct, because the baby’s life is and has been in Georgia and, if any rulings about the baby’s custody and care are needed, Georgia is clearly the place which can be best informed for making them.
