Opinion ID: 3134837
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Procedural Due Process–Burden of Proof

Text: D.C. raises additional due process challenges to section 1(D)(p). She contends that, as the circuit court held, the statute violates procedural due process because it alters the burden of proof for termination of parental rights to something less than “clear and convincing evidence.” On this issue D.C. finds fault with the statutory language which requires “competent evidence” of mental disability and “sufficient justification” to believe that the disability will extend beyond a reasonable time period. The parties agree that a decision to terminate parental rights must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. See Santosky v. Kramer , 455 U.S. 745, 71 L. Ed. 2d 599, 102 S. Ct. 1388 (1982); In re Adoption of Syck , 138 Ill. 2d 255, 275 (1990) (“because of the devastating effect produced by a termination of parental rights, the evidence of a parent’s unfitness has to be clear and convincing”). However, nothing in section 1(D)(p) purports to alter this requirement. Section 1 of the Adoption Act is merely a definitional section. Section 1(D) defines an “unfit person” and enumerates, in its various subsections, the possible grounds of unfitness. None of the various subsections of section 1(D) dictate the burden of proving unfitness. (footnote: 2) Rather, the burden of proof in adoption proceedings is set forth in section 8 of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/8 (West 1998)). That section clearly states that to obviate the requirement of a consent or surrender to adoption, on the grounds that the person is unfit as defined in section 1 of the Adoption Act, the person must be proven to be unfit “by clear and convincing evidence.” 750 ILCS 50/8(a)(1) (West 1998). (footnote: 3) We see no evidence of legislative intent that this requirement not apply to the particular definition of unfitness set out in section 1(D)(p). The requirement that the evidence of mental unfitness be “competent” refers to the type of evidence, not the quantum, nor does the word “sufficient” connote any particular burden of proof. Accordingly, we reject D.C.’s procedural due process challenge.