In the Matter of the Parental Rights to KCW
- P.N. was arrested for attempted murder in the first degree and felony harassment for an incident involving her two children. DCYF filed a dependency petition based on those charges. DCYF subsequently filed a termination petition and P.N. moved to continue the trial based on Fifth Amendment rights in light of the pending criminal case. The court agreed and continued the case twice. When P.N. requested a third continuance, the court denied her request, citing among other things, the well-being of the children. P.N. renewed the motion at the start of trial, and the court again denied her motion. P.N. did not testify at trial and the court terminated her rights. P.N. appeals asserting that the court abused its discretion and erred in finding that the children’s need for finality outweighed her Fifth Amendment right. COA # 864831, King County Superior Court # 23-7-00788-1.