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In the Interest of M.E., Minor Child
J.M., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Marshall W. Orsini
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Erin Mayfield
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Rachael E. Seymour, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Mullins, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Potterfield, S.J. (6 pages)
The father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child, M.E., born in 2016. He challenges the statutory ground for termination pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(b) (2019). Additionally, as an incarcerated parent who was unable to participate by telephone on the first day of the termination hearing, the father challenges the process that was afforded him regarding the day he was unable to participate. OPINION HOLDS: We cannot find a due process violation here. Our record is silent as to facts underlying the complaint the father now makes, and the father never raised this issue with the juvenile court. We affirm the termination of the father’s parental rights under paragraph (h) of section 232.116(1).