Court Opinion

ID: 9770369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 15:59:49.385826+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:16.727541
License: Public Domain

Judith Rogers, Judge, concurring. I join with the majority to affirm the trial court’s decision to terminate parental rights. This is a very troubling case because this course of action is not to be taken lightly. Because of the tender age of the child, the opportunity of the trial judge to assess the weight and credibility of the evidence and observe the parents, and the unreasonable action of the parents in not seeking immediate aid for this baby until after calling relatives and their attorney, I conclude that the child must be protected and removed from this home. I am concerned, however, with the Department of Human Services’ inadequate pursuit of intensive early reunification efforts. Given the teaching of child experts that abuse suffered as a child is one predictor of abuse and violence committed as an adult and given the abusive history and violence of the father as testified to in the record, I must conclude that serious intensive efforts should have been made on behalf of this family by DHS.