On Point blog, page 1 of 1
Termination of parental rights affirmed despite lack of evidence regarding the “best interests of the child”
M.R.B. v. S.S., 2017AP1217-1219, 10/5/17, District 4 (1-judge opinion, ineligible for publication); case activity
This slim opinion delivers hard blows to a father resisting the termination of his parental rights. They concern circuit court competency, a request for a continuance, and the sufficiency of evidence in determining whether termination was in the best interests of his children. The court of appeals’ reasoning on the last point supplies fodder for a petition for review.
TPR – Right to Subpoena Parent’s Child
Jeffrey J. v. David D., 2010AP1717, District 3, 9/28/10
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for David D.: Shelley Fite, SPD, Madison Appellate
Parent’s right to confrontation was satisfied by in-chambers discussion between judge and children during which they spoke in favor of termination, where their father killed their mother and grandparents, and the judge reasonably determined that they would suffer emotional harm if required to submit to face to face confrontation.