Background
Z.H., the mother of S.R., appealed from a ruling of the Circuit Court for Brevard County in an underlying child-dependency proceeding. Circuit Judge Charles G. Crawford entered the order under review.
Z.H. represented herself on appeal. The Department of Children and Families appeared as appellee, and the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office appeared on behalf of S.R. The appellate opinion does not describe the challenged order, the underlying facts, or the arguments raised on appeal.
The Court’s Holding
The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s ruling in a per curiam decision. Chief Judge Jay and Judges Makar and Soud concurred.
The court supplied no analysis or explanation for its decision. Accordingly, the opinion establishes only that the lower court’s ruling was left in place; it does not identify the legal grounds supporting affirmance.
Key Takeaways
- The Fifth District affirmed the circuit court’s ruling in the child-dependency case.
- The decision was unanimous among the three identified panel members.
- Because the court issued an unexplained per curiam affirmance, the opinion provides no factual discussion, legal reasoning, or articulated rule of law.
Why It Matters
The decision ends the appeal by leaving the Brevard County circuit court’s ruling undisturbed, subject to any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.
Its usefulness as guidance in other cases is limited because the court did not explain why it affirmed or address any substantive dependency-law issue.