Court Opinion

ID: 9539926
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:11:42.649089+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:27.733177
License: Public Domain

URBIGKIT, Justice,
concurring in the result.
Nothing in this case can give me comfort, but somewhere out of this litigative morass the interest of two children must receive some present priority. We have a mother, two different fathers and two children, now age seven and six, that have been intrinsically involved with the Big Horn County Office of Public Assistance and Social Services since their birth. For everyone and specifically these two children, there has been more than sufficient catastrophe for any providence in a single lifetime.
In 1985, now four years ago, a consent to relinquishment was signed and the future of these two children has been in litigation ever since while being placed in a parade of foster home care. Although I concur in the result, it is not to approve the course of this litigation from relinquishment form execution, which was obviously distrusted, to termination for cause, granted, and then reversed and returned for retrial. My particular disaffinity is derived from the present course of this litigation where the *1115distrusted relinquishment and consent to adoption form was pulled back off of the shelf after reversal of the termination decision as a different predicate for termination of the mother’s parental rights. This is where we are today. By now, we do not have definable knowledge whether anything more substantively remains in this litigation beyond the aimless visitations of the litigative affect on defenseless children in addition to the intransigence of continued litigation, although unquestionably manifesting deep-seated sincerity and concern of the courts, counsel and social agency.
In any event, I now say enough, without necessarily adopting a preclusive attitude of the validity of the original relinquishment or its viability as a consent to adoption. In adopting this thesis which portends in estoppel by inability to terminate litigation, I conclude that these children deserve stability and, for this reason, concur in the result to achieve for them some finality before it becomes too late for society to provide any chance of normality during their childhood. Another trial, another year or more and what has been won? Within the application of practical experience, it is contemplated that following some stability of remaining childhood, these children can sort out their family relationships as adults as the choice may then be presented.
The mother, during this four year course of litigation, has failed in two separate contested trials to convince the trial court that the children should be returned to her to raise. See Matter of T.R., 726 P.2d 500 (Wyo.1986). The time must come when litigation ends and stability is achieved. Cf. Toltec Watershed Imp. Dist. v. Johnston, 717 P.2d 808 (Wyo.1986) (Urbigkit, J., dissenting) and Matter of Adoption of BGD, 713 P.2d 1191, reh’g granted 716 P.2d 983, opinion confirmed 719 P.2d 1373 (Wyo.1986). Even though the original trial judge who conducted the two trials has now retired, I disfavor putting these children through the process one more time after this delay. In their best interest, finality of decision is due and litigation must end. In Interest of J.L., 761 P.2d 985 (Wyo.1988).
I concur in the result to permit a present conclusion to this compendium of litigation and to establish some permanency for these two children within whatever choices society can now afford.