Opinion ID: 2318602
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Natural parents have a fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of their children. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 753, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 71 L.Ed.2d 599 (1982); see also In re Steven D., 23 A.3d 1138, 1154 (R.I. 2011); In re Destiny D., 922 A.2d 168, 172 (R.I.2007). A parent's fundamental liberty interest in his or her child does not evaporate simply because he or she has not been a model parent or has lost temporary custody of the child. Santosky, 455 U.S. at 753, 102 S.Ct. 1388; see also In re Steven D., 23 A.3d at 1154; In re Natalya C., 946 A.2d 198, 202 (R.I.2008); In re Nicole B., 703 A.2d 612, 615 (R.I.1997). Accordingly, due process requires that before a court may terminate a parent's right in his/her child, the state must prove parental unfitness by clear and convincing evidence. Santosky, 455 U.S. at 769-70, 102 S.Ct. 1388; see also In re Steven D., 23 A.3d at 1161; In re Victoria L., 950 A.2d 1168, 1174 (R.I.2008). However, once that rather daunting burden with respect to unfitness has been met, then the best interests of the child outweigh all other considerations. In re Destiney L., 21 A.3d 279, 283 (R.I.2011) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also In re Charles L., 6 A.3d 1089, 1093 (R.I.2010); In re Destiny D., 922 A.2d at 174. In reviewing a decision to terminate a parent's rights, this Court examine[s] the record to determine if legally competent evidence exists to support the trial justice's findings. In re Steven D., 23 A.3d at 1169 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also In re Caleb W., 990 A.2d 1225, 1228 (R.I.2010); In re Alexis L., 972 A.2d 159, 165 (R.I.2009). The factual findings of the trial justice are entitled to great weight and will not be disturbed unless it can be shown that they are clearly wrong or the trial justice overlooked or misconceived material evidence. In re Caleb W., 990 A.2d at 1228 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also In re Alexis L., 972 A.2d at 165; In re Jose Luis R.H., 968 A.2d 875, 881 (R.I.2009). It should also be noted that, in view of the fact that one of the issues before us involves evidentiary rulings (notably concerning the admissibility of exhibits 1 and 2), we review such rulings pursuant to the familiar abuse of discretion standard. See, e.g., State v. Moreno, 996 A.2d 673, 678 (R.I.2010); State v. Breen, 767 A.2d 50, 59 (R.I.2001); State v. Gabriau, 696 A.2d 290, 294 (R.I.1997); State v. Johnson, 667 A.2d 523, 530 (R.I.1995).