July 2025 Archive | Court of Appeals Court Opinions

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Carrie K. Bryner, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Schumacher, P.J., and Buller and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals the juvenile court order terminating his parental rights to his minor son, arguing the juvenile court should have applied a permissive exception to termination based on the parent-child bond.  Additionally, he asserts the juvenile court should have established a guardianship for his son in lieu of terminating his parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: Upon our de novo review of the record, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Plymouth County, Jessica Noll, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Ahlers and Langholz, JJ.  Opinion by Langholz, J.  (6 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to four children.  He argues that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services did not provide active efforts under the Iowa Indian Child Welfare Act, that termination is not in the children’s best interests, and that a permissive exception should preclude termination.  OPINION HOLDS: Because the father waited until the termination hearing to object to the active efforts, he has failed to preserve error.  Termination is in the children’s best interest because none of the children are safe in the father’s care, he fails to acknowledge his abuse and harm to the children—even after being convicted of sexual abuse and incest—and they are doing well with their mother.  And no permissive exception is appropriate given the abuse and his lengthy continued incarceration.  We thus affirm termination of the father’s parental rights.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Cynthia S. Finley, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Ahlers and Langholz, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, C.J.  (8 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her three-year-old son, contending that the State failed to offer clear and convincing evidence that he could not safely return to her custody.  She also argues that termination was not in the child’s best interests because they share a strong bond.  OPINION HOLDS: After careful review, we affirm the juvenile court’s well-reasoned termination order.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Michael Motto, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Greer, P.J., and Badding and Chicchelly, JJ.  Opinion by Greer, P.J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights, arguing the juvenile court was wrong in finding a statutory basis for termination under section 232.116(1)(e) and (h) (2025).  OPINION HOLDS: Because the father has unaddressed substance-use and anger-management problems, we affirm the decision of the juvenile court under section 232.116(1)(h).