In the Interest of D.G. and M.L., Minor Children
J.L., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Alexandra M. Nelissen
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Magdalena Reese
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Thomas Mott, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Greer and Ahlers, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (5 pages)
The mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to two of her children, D.G., born in 2013, and M.L., born in 2018. The mother purports to challenge whether the children could be returned to her care at the time of the termination hearing in December 2019, if termination is in the children’s best interests, and whether a permissive factor in Iowa Code section 232.116(3) (2019) precludes termination. OPINION HOLDS: Insofar as her claims have been preserved for our review, we find the statutory grounds for termination were met and termination of the mother’s rights is in these children’s best interests. We refuse to consider the mother’s claim regarding the application of permissive factors, as she did not present evidence nor make argument to the juvenile court regarding the preservation of her rights.
