Background
L.R., the mother of minor child V.A.S., appealed an order from the Circuit Court for Marion County in a proceeding involving the Florida Department of Children and Families. Circuit Judge Stacy Morris Youman entered the order under review.
L.R. represented herself on appeal. The Department and the statewide Guardian ad Litem Office appeared through counsel. The appellate opinion does not describe the challenged order, the underlying facts, or the arguments presented.
The Court’s Holding
The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s decision in a per curiam disposition. Judges Lambert, Harris, and Boatwright concurred.
Because the court issued only the word “AFFIRMED,” it provided no legal analysis and identified no specific basis for its ruling. The circuit court’s order therefore remains in effect, subject to disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.
Key Takeaways
- The Fifth District affirmed the Marion County circuit court’s order.
- The decision was unanimous among the three identified panel judges.
- The per curiam affirmance contains no facts, reasoning, or statement of a broader legal rule.
Why It Matters
The ruling ends the appeal in the Department-related proceeding unless further authorized review is timely pursued. Its practical effect is to leave the circuit court’s decision undisturbed.
Because the court supplied no written reasoning, the opinion offers practitioners no guidance about the substantive issues presented and should not be read as deciding questions beyond the result in this case.