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In the Interest of S.O., Minor Child
S.O., Minor Child-Appellant
F.O., Father-Appellant
J.O., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Minor Child
T. Cody Farrens
Attorney for Appellant Father
Peter A. Goldsmith
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Lori J. Kolpin
Attorney for Appellee State
Meredith L. Lamberti and Charles K. Phillips, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
George C. Blazek
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Crawford County, Mary L. Timko, Associate Juvenile Judge. AFFIRMED ON ALL APPEALS. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Greer and Ahlers, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, P.J. (20 pages)
A mother, a father, and their child, S.O., all separately appeal the juvenile court order terminating parental rights. We asked for additional briefing on whether the child has standing to appeal the ground for termination through her attorney, a role bifurcated from her guardian ad litem. OPINION HOLDS: After reviewing the parties’ supplemental briefs and our case law, we find the child, through her attorney, has standing to appeal the ground for termination. But we find termination is proper given the history of sexual abuse perpetrated by the father, the parents’ overall denial of the problems, and the lack of progress in safety goals. So we affirm termination on all appeals.