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In the Interest of C.S., Minor Child
J.S., Father-Appellant
C.S., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Steven L. Cooper
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Agnes G. Warutere
Attorney for Appellee State
Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad litem
John Jellineck
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Colin J. Witt, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Potterfield and Tabor, JJ. Opinion by Vaitheswaran, P.J. (4 pages)
A mother and father appeal the termination of their parental rights to their minor child, contending (1) the record lacks clear and convincing evidence to support the ground for termination cited by the juvenile court; (2) termination is not in the child’s best interests; and (3) the juvenile court should have declined to terminate their parental rights based on the closeness of the parent-child bonds. OPINION HOLDS: We conclude reunification with either parent is not an option. Given the father’s violent propensities and both parents’ continued drug use, termination is in the child’s best interests. Additionally, the juvenile court acted appropriately in declining to invoke the parent-child bond exception to termination. Accordingly, we affirm the termination of the parents’ rights to the child.
