In the Interest of T.B., J.B., and J.B., Minor Children
J.B., Mother-Appellant
T.B., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Sandra Benzschawel
Attorney for Appellant Father
Charles R. Kelly
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Whitney L. Gessner
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Allamakee County, Linnea M.N. Nicol, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Greer and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Schumacher, J. (13 pages)
A mother and father appeal the termination of their parental rights. They contend the court should have instituted a guardianship in lieu of termination based on the best interests of the children, or applied a statutory exception to termination. They also claim the juvenile court should have bifurcated the role of guardian ad litem and counsel for one of the children. OPINION HOLDS: Termination of the parents’ rights is in the best interests of the children, and none of the statutory exceptions apply. We also find a guardianship is not appropriate on these facts and that the court did not abuse its discretion in declining to bifurcate the attorney and guardian ad litem’s role for the eldest child. We affirm.
