In the Interest of I.D. and S.D., Minor Children
J.D., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Rebecca C. Sharpe
Attorney for Appellee State
Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad litem
Jean Capdevila
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Mark Fowler, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Potterfield, P.J., May, J., and Blane, S.J. Opinion by Blane, S.J. (4 pages)
The father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his biological child, I.D., and his legal child, S.D. The juvenile court terminated his parental rights to both children pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (l) (2018). The father does not contest the statutory grounds for termination; he argues termination is not in the children’s best interests because they share a bond with him. He also asks for additional time to work toward reunification. OPINION HOLDS: Termination is in the children’s best interests, and the father has not established that the children are so bonded to him that we should avoid termination of his parental rights. Additionally, because we cannot say the father could safely parent the children if given an extension to work toward reunification, we affirm.