Opinion ID: 2550832
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mother's Appeal of the Termination of Her Parental Rights

Text: Mother appealed to the Superior Court, contending that Judge Miller erred in finding that Father proved, by clear and convincing evidence, that the totality of the circumstances supported the termination of parental rights. See In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 855 (Pa.Super.2004) (providing that the entire history of a case must be examined when considering the termination of parental rights, which may only be granted if the evidence, in light of the totality of the circumstances, clearly warrants the involuntary termination.). Mother argued that Father and Stepmother actively obstructed her reasonable efforts to maintain the parental relationship with L.J.B., and that under the facts of this case, termination of Mother's parental rights was improper. See In re M.A.K., 489 Pa. 597, 414 A.2d 1052 (1980) (where a parent exercises reasonable firmness in refusing to yield to obstacles, which prevent maintenance of the parental relationship, termination under Section 2511(a) is not proper). While Mother's appeal was pending before the Superior Court, Judge Miller twice supplemented the record by way of orders of November 25, 2009 and January 29, 2010. The supplementations to the certified record reflected two pieces of correspondence he received after he entered the final termination decree: one from L.J.B.'s guardian ad litem, Attorney David I. Lindsay, and the other from Stepmother. By way of background, as reflected in the appendix to Mother's brief to this Court, Mother informed Attorney Lindsay on November 12, 2009, that Stepmother and Father were divorcing, and that Stepmother no longer wished to adopt L.J.B. While Attorney Lindsay initially responded to Mother that he found her claims without factual or legal basis, he subsequently wrote to Judge Miller on November 16, 2009, relating that, after speaking with Father and Stepmother, he learned (1) Stepmother and Father had indeed separated and intended to divorce; (2) contact between Stepmother and L.J.B. had significantly decreased; and (3) Stepmother had reservations concerning her adoption of L.J.B. See Letter from David I. Lindsay, Esq. to Judge Craig P. Miller (Nov. 16, 2009) (found at Mother's Brief, Appendix E). On January 22, 2010, Stepmother wrote a lengthy letter to Judge Miller (Judge Williamson, Father and Stepmother's jointly retained attorney, and Attorney Lindsay all received copies) detailing the animosity that had developed between Father and her since their separation, notably including averments that Father was aggressive toward her. Moreover, Stepmother noted that Father was no longer permitting her to visit with L.J.B. Accordingly, while Stepmother reiterated her desire to be a part of L.J.B.'s life and how she regarded L.J.B. as her own daughter, given the developments between her and Father, and further because of financial constraints, Stepmother averred, at this time I feel it would be best to drop the adoption. Letter from Stepmother to Judge Miller, et al. (Jan. 22, 2010) (found at Mother's Brief, Appendix F.). As noted above, Judge Miller ordered that the November 16 letter from Attorney Lindsay, and the January 22 letter from Stepmother, be forwarded to the Superior Court as supplements to the certified record. See In re Adoption of L.J.B., No. 21-2008, Order Supplementing Certified Record (Nov. 29, 2009) (Miller, J.); Id., Order Supplementing Certified Record (filed Jan. 22, 2010) (Miller, J.). However, neither the certified record currently before us, nor the appendices to any of the parties' briefs, reflect that Stepmother has formally filed any petition, application, or praecipe to withdraw her petition to adopt L.J.B. The Superior Court, in an unpublished opinion, unanimously affirmed the termination of Mother's parental rights, holding that the obstacles placed in Mother's path by Father, Judge Williamson, and CYS were not sufficient to overcome the evidence presented by Father that she abandoned L.J.B. for the statutory period of six months. It does not appear that the Superior Court considered the supplements to the certified record, and what effect they might have on the ultimate outcome of the appeal. Mother petitioned this court for allowance of appeal, which we granted to examine the propriety of the termination order.