L.A.G. V. People

In People in the Interest of A.A.G., L.T.G., and V.N.G., 902 P.2d 437 (Colo. App. 1995), the court of appeals affirmed an order of the Denver Juvenile Court in a dependency and neglect proceeding awarding joint custody of three minor children, A.A.G., L.T.G., and V.N.G., to the father, A.G., and to the mother, L.A.G. The juvenile court applied section 14-10-124(1) and (1.5), 6B C.R.S. (1987), of the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act (the Act) in rendering its decision. The court of appeals held that the juvenile court erred in applying the Act rather than the applicable provisions of the Children's Code, sections 19-1-101 to 19-6-106, 8B C.R.S. (1995 Supp.) (the Code), but affirmed the order of joint custody on the grounds that the legal standard applicable to the proceeding is identical to the standard applied by the juvenile court and because joint custody is a viable placement alternative under section 19-3-508(1)(a), 8B C.R.S. (1995 Supp.), of the Code. Having granted certiorari to review the propriety of the court of appeals' decision, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the case to that court with directions to return the case to the juvenile court for further proceedings.