Opinion
No. CA12-360
10-03-2012
MATTHEW HICE and JESSICA HICE APPELLANTS v. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES and MINOR CHILD APPELLEES
Brian A. Butler, for appellant Jessica Hice. Deborah R. Sallings, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant Matthew Hice.
APPEAL FROM THE LOGAN
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
NORTHERN DISTRICT,
[NO. JV 2010-36]
HONORABLE TERRY SULLIVAN,
JUDGE
AFFIRMED; MOTIONS TO
WITHDRAW GRANTED
ROBERT J. GLADWIN , Judge
The Logan County Circuit Court terminated appellants Matthew Hice's and Jessica Hice's parental rights in their minor son, M.H., on July 2, 2012. Appellants are represented by separate counsel, and each has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and a no-merit brief pursuant to Linker-Flores v. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs., 359 Ark. 131, 194 S.W.3d 739 (2004), and Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(i) (2011), stating that there are no issues of arguable merit for appeal. We agree.
The clerk of this court sent copies of counsel's motions and briefs to the respective appellants at the addresses counsel provided in the certificates of service in the motions to be relieved, informing them that they had the right to file pro se points for reversal. Appellant Jessica Hice signed a receipt for her packet of documents but filed no pro se points. The packet that was sent to appellant Matthew Hice was returned to the clerk on June 8, 2012, marked "unknown," and he has not filed any pro se points. Neither the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) nor the ad litem attorney has chosen to file a brief.
After carefully examining the record and the briefs presented to us, we conclude that counsel has complied with the requirements established by the Arkansas Supreme Court for no-merit appeals in termination cases and that these appeals are wholly without merit. Accordingly, we affirm, by memorandum opinion, the order terminating appellants' parental rights in M.H. See In re Memorandum Opinions, 16 Ark. App. 301, 700 S.W.2d 63 (1985); Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 5-2(e) (2011). Counsel's motions to withdraw are granted.
Affirmed; motions to withdraw granted.
PITTMAN and ROBBINS, JJ., agree.
Brian A. Butler, for appellant Jessica Hice.
Deborah R. Sallings, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant Matthew Hice.