Court Opinion

ID: 9541329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:24:29.572713+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:02:45.294742
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE KILBRIDE, specially concurring: I write separately to emphasize this court’s admonition that trial courts should either make written findings of fact or, at a minimum, transcribe and file their oral findings. As this court admonishes: “[w]hen a court makes an oral pronouncement of its findings on the record which is not otherwise reduced to writing, we strongly encourage trial courts, as a matter of practice, to order the statements transcribed and maintain a transcribed copy in the court file.” 215 Ill. 2d at 375 n.2. I steadfastly believe this practice should be applied in eveiy case of this nature. As this court notes elsewhere, “the writing requirement contained in section 2 — 27(1) exists to give the parties notice of the reasons forming the basis for the removal of the child and to preserve this reasoning for appellate review.” 215 Ill. 2d at 374. I agree and, further, maintain that, even in the absence of an appeal, the reasons forming the basis for the removal of the child must be reduced to writing to provide the parties, social services, and the court with clear benchmarks for measuring future progress toward the goal of reunification. I firmly adhere to the belief that our trial judges proceed in good faith, with the working assumption that parents need to make progress in reuniting the family. Therefore, although the majority has not adopted an unassailable standard requiring, in all instances, a written order or a written transcript of the findings underlying removal, I reassert this court’s admonition in the strongest terms with the hope that all trial judges will provide clear written findings or written transcripts of those findings filed of record. By committing the court’s findings to writing, the purpose of section 2 — 27(1) is fulfilled by giving parents and social service providers full, adequate, and practical notice of the target areas where improvement is needed. A clear statement of those areas is a critical component in working toward the goal of successful family reunification. Accordingly, I respectfully submit this separate opinion to clarify my support of the majority opinion.