Opinion
No. 0-766 / 10-1451.
Filed November 10, 2010.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Mary Jane Sokolovske, Judge.
A mother appeals from the juvenile court order dismissing a termination of parental rights petition against the father. APPEAL DISMISSED.
Teresa A. O'Brien, Sioux City, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller-Todd, Assistant Attorney General, Patrick Jennings, County Attorney and Dewey Sloan, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.
Francis J. Cleary, Sioux City, for father.
Michelle Hynes, Sioux City, Atorney and guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by EISENHAUER, P.J., and POTTERFIELD and DOYLE, JJ.
This appeal involves the dismissal of a termination of parental rights petition brought against the father of two children. The petition was filed by the Woodbury County attorney seeking termination of the father's parental rights. The petition did not ask for termination of mother's parental rights. The mother appeals from the juvenile court order, arguing termination is warranted pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.116(1)(d) and (f) (2009) because the grounds for termination were proved by clear and convincing evidence and termination is in the children's best interest. The State did not appeal.
The father argues the mother does not have standing to pursue this appeal. The mother was not a party to the termination proceedings. She cites no authority suggesting she has standing to challenge the termination of parental rights of the father and we have found no such authority. We agree with the father that mother has no standing to challenge the action involving the father's parental rights. Accordingly, we dismiss the mother's appeal.