Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 22, 2022
In the Interest of: S.M.W., Juvenile Officer, vs. S.E.W.
S.E.W. (father) appealed the juvenile court's disposition judgment that assumed jurisdiction over his child, S.M.W., and ordered father to participate in certain services. Father argued the juvenile court erred by appointing a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent him, claiming it usurped his Chapter 475 guardian, and by ordering services without considering his disability, violating federal anti-discrimination laws. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding no error in the GAL appointment as it was statutorily required for an incompetent parent, and declining to review the services issue due to briefing deficiencies.