Opinion ID: 2232202
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: In re A.B.

Text: A.B. was removed from her mother's custody in 1986. In 1989, the State petitioned the juvenile court to terminate parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. In May 1990, the guardian ad litem for A.B. petitioned the juvenile court to consider whether, in the event that parental rights were terminated, the court would condition the power of the guardian to consent to adoption upon the prospective adoptive parents' agreement to allow A.B. to have continued contact with her siblings. Although the prospective adoptive parents agreed to accept court-ordered visitation, the juvenile court declined, for lack of authority, to condition the guardian's power to consent. The case was continued for completion of adoption. The office of the public guardian appealed the court's refusal to enter the conditional provision. The three cases were consolidated for purposes of appeal in the appellate court. With respect to A.B., the appellate court affirmed the juvenile court order. In the M.M. and M.E.B. et al. cases, however, the court reversed the conditional orders and remanded the causes to the juvenile court for a determination of whether non-provisional orders are in the best interests of the children. 226 Ill.App.3d 202, 168 Ill. Dec. 287, 589 N.E.2d 687. Separate petitions for leave to appeal were filed in this court by the Cook County public defender, on behalf of the parents of M.M. and M.E.B. et al., and by the office of the public guardian, on behalf of all of the minors. We allowed both petitions (134 Ill.2d R. 315), and, on this court's own motion, consolidated the cases. Separate appellants' briefs were filed by the public guardian, on behalf of all of the minor children, and by the public defender, on behalf of the biological parents of M.M. and M.E.B. et al. Appellants, as used in this opinion, refers, interchangeably, to the minor children or to their parents.