In the Interest of G.B., Minor Child
A.A., Mother-Appellant
L.B., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Nancy L. Pietz
Attorney for Appellant Father
Thomas G. Crabb
Attorney for Appellee State
Toby J. Gordon, 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 Warren County, Mark F. Schlenker, District Associate Judge. REVERSED AND REMANDED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by May, P.J., and Greer and Chicchelly, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. Dissent by May, P.J. (14 pages)
The mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to their child, G.B., born in 2015. The mother challenges the statutory ground, claims the loss of her rights is not in the child’s best interests, and maintains the parent-child bond is so strong that termination will harm G.B. Alternatively, she asks for six more months to reunify with G.B. As it pertains to his parental rights, the father seems to focus on a best-interests argument and a request for more time. OPINION HOLDS: We reverse the termination of the mother’s and the father’s parental rights; we grant each parent a six-month extension. DISSENT ASSERTS: I would not grant either parent additional time to work toward reunification. Because I think a statutory ground authorizing termination as to both parent is met and termination of both parents’ respective rights is in the child’s best interest, I would affirm the termination of both parents’ rights.
