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At the Lectern

Dependency opinion filing tomorrow

April 26, 2026

Tomorrow morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in In re Z.G. (consolidated with In re A.G).  (Briefs here; oral argument video here.)

The court limited the issue in Z.G. to:  “Can parental rights properly be terminated pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1) when a parent did not receive reunification services and was not bypassed for such services?”  In A.G., court staff said, “This case presents issues relating to claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with juvenile dependency proceedings resulting in the termination of petitioner’s parental rights.”  The court granted review in May 2025.  More about the cases here.

This will be the first opinion for the five cases argued on the February calendar.  The other four opinions should file by May 4.

The Z.G. opinion can be viewed tomorrow starting at 10:00 a.m.

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