Court Opinion

ID: 9593687
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:23:59.226403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:31.738712
License: Public Domain

URBIGKIT, Justice,
specially concurring.
I concur in the result, but write additionally to perceive that something separate from incarceration is required to justify parental rights termination. That protected right of parental association as “fundamental and substantial” cannot be extinguished by incarceration alone. Matter of GP, 679 P.2d 976 (Wyo.1984); Note, Family Law — Termination of Parental Rights: Establishing Standards for the Wyoming Law. In the Matter of Parental Rights to X, Y and Z, DS v. Dept, of Public Assistance & Social Services, 607 P.2d 911 (Wyo. *5591980), XVI Land & Water L.Rev. 217 (1981).
The syllogism of W.S. 14-2-309(a)(iv) is not constitutionally complete if criterion one, incarceration for conviction of a felony, will then suffice to prove criterion two, unfitness, which in this case might be adduced from the extended terms given appellants in the federal penitentiary. Cf. In Interest of J.G., 742 P.2d 770 (Wyo.1987). The availability of a means, which is less intrusive than termination, is a constitutional search which may also be applicable to the incarceration termination cases. These rules, such as least intrusive and child’s best interest, are introduced in termination cases to quantify kinds of evidence sufficient to justify termination of the constitutional right of filiation between parent and child. Those societal interests exist no less today in these singularly multiplying types of cases of magnified human tragedy — penal confinement.
I concur, however, in approval under the particularized circumstances of this case with the trial court’s determination of a generalized category of unfitness as a separate factor for allocation of blame to the incarcerated parents. Matter of Parental Rights to ARW, 716 P.2d 353 (Wyo.1986). For a general test, see DS & RS v. Department of Public Assistance and Social Services, 607 P.2d 911 (Wyo.1980). My approval is also justified by the absence in appellate issue of any vagueness attack on the unfitness test as a constitutional perspective. In Interest of J.G., 742 P.2d 770. See Comment, Family Law — Wyoming’s New Termination of Parental Rights Statute, XVII Land & Water L.Rev. 621, 635 (1982). Compare generally, Alsager v. District Court of Polk County, Iowa, 406 F.Supp. 10 (S.D.Iowa 1975), aff’d 545 F.2d 1137 (8th Cir.1976) with People v. D.A.K., 198 Colo. 11, 596 P.2d 747 (1979); Matter of Five Minor Children, 407 A.2d 198 (Del.Supr.1979), appeal dismissed for want of a properly presented federal issue, Doe v. Delaware, 450 U.S. 382, 101 S.Ct. 1495, 67 L.Ed.2d 312 (Brennan and White, JJ., dissenting), reh’g denied 451 U.S. 964, 101 S.Ct. 2036, 68 L.Ed.2d 342 (1981), reh’g denied 458 U.S. 1117, 102 S.Ct. 3502, 73 L.Ed.2d 1379 (1982); and In the Interest of Brooks, 228 Kan. 541, 618 P.2d 814 (1980).
I specially concur as justified by the facts of this case even though parental unfitness appears to be a somewhat ephemeral test for deprivation of the constitutional rights of a family, unless that “unfitness” is more closely defined within objective factual standards or legal principles. Whatever the test may be, it is not separately nor solely incarceration. Comment, supra, XVII Land & Water L.Rev. 621.