Jenna L.C. v. Dustin J.K.V., 2012AP2696, District 2, 5/29/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity The court of appeals rejects Dustin’s claim that his attorney was ineffective at the fact-finding hearing on a TPR petition alleging he had failed to assume parental responsibility for his daughter, Breyanna. Trial counsel did not… Read more
B. Constitutional rights
Ronald J.R. v. Alexis L.A., 2013 WI App 79; case activity This is an appeal from a partial summary judgment decision finding grounds to terminate Alexis L.A.’s parental rights. The father, Ronald J.R., sought termination on two grounds and won summary judgment on the first one. The parties then stipulated that Ronald would withdraw the second… Read more
Dane County DHS v. Mable K., 2013 WI 28, reversing court of appeals summary order; case activity ¶3 We conclude, and the circuit court has acknowledged, that it erroneously exercised its discretion when it entered a default judgment finding that grounds existed to terminate Mable K.’s parental rights after barring her attorney from offering additional… Read more
Racine County v. Latanya D.K., 2013 WI App 28; case activity TPR – Waiver of jury trial need not be part of admission colloquy ¶2 Latanya’s major arguments raise an important question: Must the court engage in a personal colloquy with a parent regarding his or her waiver of the right to a jury trial before accepting the parent’s… Read more
La Crosse Co. DHS v. Kristle S., 2012AP2005, District 4, 11/21/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity The parent was given a meaningful opportunity to cross-examine the social worker with respect to conditions for the children’s return, in that the trial court permitted extensive questioning on these issues before instructing counsel to pursue a different… Read more
Nicole P. v. Michael P., 2012AP780, District 3, 10/16/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Father’s motion to withdraw admission to grounds (based on asserted lack of understanding that: termination of parental rights required an unfitness determination; sole focus of dispositional hearing would be child’s best interests, with no concern for parent’s… Read more
Veronica K. v. Michael K., 2012AP197, District 1, 10/10/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Michael K., incarcerated at the time of this TPR trial, appeared by audio-video hookup. He argues that his due process right to meaningful participation, State v. Lavelle W., 2005 WI App 266, ¶2, 288 Wis. 2d 504, 708 N.W.2d 698… Read more
State v. Tenesha T., 2012AP1283, District 1, 9/5/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Parent’s right to be present during TPR trial wasn’t violated when court allowed 30 minutes of testimony during parent’s volunary absence: ¶16 Tenesha bases her argument on Shirley E., contending that a parent’s right to be present during termination… Read more
