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Case No. 20-0678

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In the Interest of E.H., Minor Child

D.H., Father-Appellant

M.W., Mother-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Father

Shane P. O'Toole

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Jeremy L. Merrill

Attorney for Appellee State

Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad Litem

Erin Romar

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
20-0678
Date Published:
Oct 21, 2020
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Susan Cox, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Greer, J., and Potterfield, S.J.  Opinion by Potterfield, S.J.  (9 pages)

            The mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to E.H., who was born in 2016.  The court terminated each parent’s rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2019).  On appeal, the mother and the father each maintain the State failed to prove the statutory ground for termination, the loss of their rights is not in E.H.’s best interests, and their respective parent-child relationship should be saved due to the closeness of their bond with the child.  Alternatively, each parent maintains they should be given more time to work toward reunification with E.H.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination of the mother’s and the father’s parental rights.     

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