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In re O.L. and A.L., Minor Children
A.A., Father-Appellant
E.C., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Lori M. Holm
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Francis Hurley
Attorney for Appellee State
Mackenzie L. Moran, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Brooke J. Thompson (until withdrawal)
Sonia M. Elossais
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Susan Cox, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Ahlers, P.J., Chicchelly, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Potterfield, S.J. (8 pages)
The mother and father separately appeal the termination of their respective parental rights to O.L. (born in 2021) and A.L. (born in 2020). The mother argues the court should have given her an additional six months to work toward reunification and that termination of her rights is not in the children’s best interests. The father challenges whether (1) the State proved the statutory ground for termination, (2 the loss of his rights is in the children’s best interests, and (3) a permissive factor should have been applied to save the parent-child relationships. OPINION HOLDS: As for the mother’s appeal, we conclude delaying permanency is not warranted and termination of the mother’s rights is in the children’s best interests. Regarding the father, the State proved the statutory ground for termination and, because termination is in the children’s best interests, a guardianship with the paternal great-grandmother is not appropriate. We affirm the termination of each parent’s rights.
