Court Opinion

ID: 9691330
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 20:26:00.92132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:17.004685
License: Public Domain

WAHL, Justice,
dissenting.
I agree with the majority opinion in every respect except the disposition. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, it is unconscionable to prolong these proceedings with a remand. The decision of the trial court denying the petition for termination of parental rights was clearly erroneous.
All seven children of this family were removed from the parental home in 1982, on the finding of the court that there had been seven or eight years of abuse of those children. K.K. was four years old; C.K. was two at that time. They have now been out of the home of the parents for six *850years. Judge Oleisky, an experienced juvenile court judge, by order dated September 27, 1985, found that both K.K. and C.K. had been sexually abused by the father. The court ordered that there be no contact between the father and these two children until the father had successfully completed the treatment program for sex offenders. The record shows lack of treatment for and denial of sexual abuse by the father. The mother has consistently identified with the interests of the father rather than with the interests of the children.
On the face of this record the trial court here required no treatment. The only expert who tells us it is safe to return the children to the parental home is the same expert who testified at trial that young children should not be returned to an untreated sex offender. The time has come to determine “what action most readily promotes the best interests of the child.” Matter of Welfare of 390 N.W.2d 274, 280 (Minn.1986). The courts have exercised judicial caution long enough. The best interests of K.K. and C.K. require reversal and the granting of the petition to terminate parental rights. I would so hold.