Background
S.M., identified as the father of J.M., appealed from an order of the Circuit Court for Lake County. Circuit Judge Benjamin Boylston entered the order under review in lower-tribunal case number 35-2026-DP-20.
The Department of Children and Families appeared as appellee, and the Guardian ad Litem Program also participated in the appeal. The appellate court’s brief disposition does not describe the underlying facts, identify the challenged ruling, or state the arguments raised on appeal.
The Court’s Holding
The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s order. Chief Judge Jay and Judges Wallis and Harris concurred in the per curiam disposition.
The court issued no written analysis or explanation for its decision. The opinion therefore establishes only that the lower court’s order was affirmed, without revealing the panel’s reasoning or resolving any expressly stated legal question.
Key Takeaways
- The Fifth District affirmed the Lake County circuit court’s order.
- The decision was per curiam and contained no explanation of the facts, issues, or legal reasoning.
- The disposition was not final until resolution of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.
Why It Matters
The ruling leaves the circuit court’s order in place, but its practical significance cannot be assessed further from the opinion because the court did not identify the order’s substance or the issues presented.
Because the court supplied no reasoning, the decision offers no written guidance on Florida child-welfare or dependency law beyond the result in this appeal.