Opinion ID: 1780026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Unfitness as Grounds for Termination of Harris' Parental Rights

Text: ¶ 27. The Fosters also claim Harris is mentally and morally unfit to raise Elizabeth. They point to Harris' longtime substance abuse and chemical dependency and his self-described `incurable disease' as evidence of his unfitness. The Fosters also note Harris' pattern of immoral and irresponsible behavior in having unprotected sexual relationships with several young women, as well as his inability to maintain gainful employment as support for their petition. ¶ 28. The chancellor acknowledged Harris' status as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and noted such addictions are a lifetime struggle. However, the chancellor recognized that, at the time of the hearing, Harris had been clean and sober for nearly seven years. Additionally, the record indicates Harris is an active member and meeting leader for both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Given the remarkable turnaround in his life and his seven years of sobriety, the chancellor declined to hold Harris' past substance abuse against him. ¶ 29. While premarital and unprotected sexual relations can be relevant to a determination of moral fitness, the chancellor found that Harris' actions did not rise to a level requiring termination of his parental rights. The same finding was made with respect to Harris' sporadic employment history, where many of his short-term jobs were held  and lost  during his years of substance abuse. ¶ 30. Again, the petitioners bear the burden of proving mental or moral unfitness by clear and convincing evidence. Petit, 443 So.2d at 877 The chancellor held that the Fosters failed to present adequate evidence of Harris' inability to raise his child based on mental or moral unfitness. The chancellor's decision was not manifestly wrong, as it was supported by credible evidence. Therefore, we affirm the chancellor's denial of the Fosters' petition to adopt Elizabeth and to terminate Harris' parental rights on the ground of unfitness.