In the Interest of N.J., N.W., and N.J., Minor Children
D.J., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Blake D. Lubinus
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Chira Corwin
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Lynn Poschner, District Associate Judge. REVERSED AND REMANDED. Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Mullins and Greer, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (13 pages)
A father appeals the juvenile court permanency order directing the State to proceed with termination of his parental rights to three minor children as well as the order terminating his rights under Iowa Code chapter 232 (2019). On appeal, the father argues the juvenile court should have granted him six more months to regain custody of the children rather than directing the State to initiate termination proceedings, the State failed to prove grounds for termination, termination is not in the children’s best interests, and an exception should be applied to prevent termination. OPINION HOLDS: We conclude the father should have been given an additional six months to pursue reunification. We reverse the termination of the father’s parental rights and remand for vacation of the juvenile court termination order, implementation of a six-month extension, and further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
