What did the appeals court decide?

The appeals court affirmed the lower court's decision in the dependency case, leaving that judgment in place.

Who is affected by this decision?

The appellant J.R.B., the Department of Children and Families, the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, and the children in the dependency proceeding are directly affected.

Does the opinion explain the court's reasoning?

No; the opinion is a brief per curiam affirmance and does not provide detailed reasoning or analysis.

Can this decision be appealed further?

Potential further review (such as a motion for rehearing or a discretionary review to the Florida Supreme Court) may be available, but the short opinion does not address appellate options or timelines.

J. R. B. v. Department of Children and Families, Statewide

Docket 2D2025-3145

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

FamilyAffirmed

Filed: Apr 29, 2026 · 2 days ago
Jurisdiction: Florida
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
Type: Opinion
Case type: Family
Disposition: Affirmed
Docket: 2D2025-3145

Appeal from the circuit court in a dependency proceeding involving children

Summary

The Second District Court of Appeal reviewed a dependency case involving children E.W., C.M., and C.C. with J.R.B. as the appellant and the Department of Children and Families and the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office as appellees. The appellate court issued a short per curiam decision and affirmed the lower court's ruling. No additional reasoning or changes to the trial court's orders were provided in the published opinion; the panel concurred and the judgment stands as affirmed.

Issue Decided

Whether the circuit court's orders in the dependency proceedings should be reversed

Court's Reasoning

The published disposition is brief and provides no elaborated reasoning beyond the per curiam affirmance. The court reviewed the appeal and concluded the trial court's decision should be upheld, with all three judges concurring. Because the opinion contains no further explanation, the appellate court's determination rests on whatever record and legal analysis the panel found sufficient to affirm below.

Parties

Appellant: J.R.B.
Appellee: Department of Children and Families
Appellee: Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office
Judge: Lisa D. Campbell
Attorney: Thomas J. Butler

Key Dates

Decision date: 2026-04-29

What You Should Do Next

1
Consult appellate counsel about further review
If J.R.B. wishes to pursue additional review, they should consult counsel promptly to assess possible rehearing motions or seeking discretionary review and to confirm filing deadlines.
2
Request opinion or order details from trial court
Obtain the trial-court record and any written orders to understand the specific findings and orders that were affirmed, which will be necessary for any further proceedings.
3
Comply with existing court orders
Parties should continue to comply with any active dependency orders from the circuit court while evaluating next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the appeals court decide?: The appeals court affirmed the lower court's decision in the dependency case, leaving that judgment in place.
Who is affected by this decision?: The appellant J.R.B., the Department of Children and Families, the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, and the children in the dependency proceeding are directly affected.
Does the opinion explain the court's reasoning?: No; the opinion is a brief per curiam affirmance and does not provide detailed reasoning or analysis.
Can this decision be appealed further?: Potential further review (such as a motion for rehearing or a discretionary review to the Florida Supreme Court) may be available, but the short opinion does not address appellate options or timelines.

The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.

Full Filing Text

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
                       SECOND DISTRICT


                      In the Interest of E.W., E.W.,
                     C.M., C.M., and C.C., children.

                                 J.R.B.,

                               Appellant,

                                   v.

           DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES and
             STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE,

                               Appellees.


                           No. 2D2025-3145



                             April 29, 2026

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County; Lisa D.
Campbell, Judge.

Thomas J. Butler of Thomas Butler, P.A., Miami Beach, for Appellant.

Mary Soorus, Children’s Legal Services, Tampa, for Appellee Department
of Children and Families.

Jamie Billotte Moses, Pro Bono, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office
Defending Best Interests MMPO Defense, Orlando, and Sara Elizabeth
Goldfarb, Statewide Director of Appeals, Tallahassee, for Appellee
Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office.

PER CURIAM.
      Affirmed.

MORRIS, SLEET, and SMITH, JJ., Concur.


Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.




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