Court Opinion

ID: 9818500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 05:50:08.770024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:38:25.079303
License: Public Domain

*27JACK CARTER, Justice,
concurring.
The trial court needs the authority to exercise discretion and judgment in setting a hearing to terminate parental rights. Here, the primary rationale for proceeding with this termination hearing was that the state-mandated dismissal sword was hanging over the head of the trial court and the parties. Failure to conduct the hearing would require a dismissal of the case which might produce negative consequences for the child. To comply with the statute, the trial court had to proceed to trial regardless that the father was legally incompetent to understand the proceedings or assist his lawyer. Often this occurs in criminal cases, and generally the defendant is treated at a state hospital and regains competency and then the trial is conducted. But in termination of parental rights cases, the “capital punishment of civil law,” the judge’s discretion is effectively removed by the statute requiring dismissal of the case if it has not been resolved within the statutory limitation.
This is unfair not only to the parent, who does not understand what is happening, but also the State may prematurely seek termination if the only other option is dismissal of the case. Finally, the ultimate concern should be with the child. Is it probable the child will be adopted? Is the child thriving in the present environment? Is resolving the parental right immediately necessary for the well-being of the child? These matters are swept aside in a rush to conclude the case. The Legislature should amend the statute and allow the trial judges to exercise their good judgment and discretion in setting final termination hearings.
I concur in the judgment.