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Case No. 18-1375

In the Interest of L.T., A.T., and D.T., Minor Children

County:
Linn

Attorneys for the Resister

Anagha Dixit

Attorneys for the Applicant

Ellen R. Ramsey-Kacena

Supreme Court

Oral Argument Schedule

Non-Oral

Feb 12, 2019 1:30 PM

Supreme Court Opinion

Opinion Number:
18-1375
Date Published:
Mar 01, 2019
Date Amended:
May 14, 2019

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
18-1375
Date Published:
Nov 21, 2018
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Susan Flaherty, Associate Juvenile Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Potterfield and Doyle, JJ.  Opinion by Danilson, C.J.  (9 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to three children.  The mother does not dispute the existence of the grounds for termination.  However, she does challenge the cessation of reasonable efforts by the department of human services (DHS) upon the juvenile court’s oral statement of termination of parental rights in May 2017.  She also asserts the juvenile court erred in denying her July 1, 2018 motion to reopen the record and in failing to give her additional time to seek reunification with her children.  OPINION HOLDS: We express our displeasure with the juvenile court’s excuses for failing to provide a timely written order terminating the mother’s parental rights.  We will not prolong any further the children’s family insecurity.  We conclude the DHS reasonably ceased providing services after the court’s oral rendition of its ruling.  It was well beyond a reasonable time to consider additional evidence. 

Other Information

Date Further Review is Granted:
Jan 17, 2019
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