In the Interest J.H. and J.H., Minor Child
J.H., Father-Appellant
A.T., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Sarah Hradek
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Sara Strain Linder
Attorney for Appellee
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Anthony Haughton
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Johnson County, Jason A. Burns, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Greer and Badding, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (13 pages)
A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights. Both argue the State failed to prove the ground for termination, termination is not in the children’s best interests, and the juvenile court should have avoided termination via a permissive exception. The mother also asserts the juvenile court should have granted her a six-month extension. OPINION HOLDS: On our de novo review, we find the State established the ground for termination as to both parents, the children’s best interests are served by termination, and the requested permissive exception to termination does not apply. We also find an additional six-months for the mother to work toward reunification is not warranted.