Opinion
December 11, 1978
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, King County, dated October 25, 1978, which, after a hearing pursuant to section 1028 FCT of the Family Court Act, inter alia, remanded appellant's daughter to the Commissioner of Social Services. Order reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and proceeding remanded to the Family Court for a new hearing to be held before a Judge of the Family Court other than the one who previously presided. Appellant was not permitted to present evidence on her own behalf at the hearing. Appellant was further denied the opportunity to cross-examine an official of one of the supportive services of the court who testified at the hearing. A hearing, in order to accord with due process principles, includes the right to testify and offer evidence (Matter of Hecht v. Monaghan, 307 N.Y. 461; Matter of Roy Anthony A., 59 A.D.2d 662; Matter of Kenneth S., 52 A.D.2d 880). Clearly, appellant's due process rights have been violated and a new hearing must be held in order to give her an opportunity to be heard. At the new hearing, full opportunity for cross-examination of any witness who testifies must be provided. Mollen, P.J., Martuscello, Cohalan, and O'Connor, JJ., concur.