E.M. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs.

In 2008, one-year-old E.M. and his newborn sister El.M. were adjudicated children in need of services (CHINS) based on father’s repeated domestic violence against Mother. By mid-2010, both Mother and Father had ceased receiving services from the Department of Child Services (DCS), and DSC petitioned to terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights. The trial court subsequently terminated Father’s parental rights, and Father appealed. The court of appeals reversed, concluding that the trial court placed too much weight on Father’s past conduct without adequately taking into consideration evidence of changed conditions at the time of the termination hearing. The Supreme Court vacated the court of appeals opinion, holding (1) the court of appeals contravened the standard of review by reweighing the evidence; and (2) the evidence was sufficient to support termination. View "E.M. v. Ind. Dep't of Child Servs." on Justia Law