Court Opinion

ID: 9712444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:53:59.446223+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:12.244506
License: Public Domain

HESTER, Judge,
concurring and dissenting:
I concur with the finding of the majority to the effect that it is necessary to remand for further proceedings regarding the impact of appellant’s (Elizabeth A. Moore, the mother of the children) behavior upon the children and for further consideration of the sibling relationship.
I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion which holds that: “the appellees-patemal grandparents, have failed to establish ‘convincing reasons’ for placing Charles, Jr. with them . . . . ”
I am of the opinion that the record before us clearly demonstrates that it is in the best interests of both children that neither of them be placed in the custody of the mother-appellant. The lower court understated the case when it concluded that “the natural mother has demonstrated a *40certain unstable conduct raising serious questions concerning her ability to properly care for and maintain the minor child Jerrah Moore without proper supervision.” Her three felony convictions of drug trafficking; her complete failure to demonstrate any natural love, care and affection for her three children born of a prior marriage; her failure to visit those children; her tendency to move around the country with a variety of male companions; her constant changing living arrangements; leaving the two children involved in this appeal to be supervised by a 17-year old babysitter while she, the appellant, went to Washington, D. C: with a male companion; her limited desire to visit her son Charles, Jr. and her failure to show an interest in him. All of the foregoing facts are not in dispute. Not only do they demonstrate unstable conduct, raising serious questions concerning appellant’s ability to properly care for her daughter Jerrah Moore, they constitute characteristics and conduct that would not be in the best interests of the minors involved.
I concur that remand is necessary.