Opinion
SC: 160533 COA: 347800
02-05-2020
IN RE INGRAM, Minors.
Order
On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the October 15, 2019 judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered. Pursuant to MCR 7.305(H)(1), in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we VACATE the Court of Appeals judgment. We REMAND this case to that court which, while retaining jurisdiction, shall remand this case to the Wayne Circuit Court Family Division for that court to reconsider its December 3, 2018 order terminating respondent’s parental rights to LJI and LMI. The circuit court shall be directed to specifically address: (1) whether there is a statutory basis to terminate respondent’s parental rights to LJI and LMI, see In re JK , 468 Mich. 202, 210, 661 N.W.2d 216 (2003) ; and (2) whether termination is in LJI’s and LMI’s best interests, taking into consideration, among other evidence, respondent’s efforts towards sobriety, see In re Moss , 301 Mich. App. 76, 90, 836 N.W.2d 182 (2013). The circuit court may, in its discretion, receive proofs or hold an evidentiary hearing. The circuit court shall be directed to forward to the Court of Appeals a written opinion addressing the above issues within 42 days of the Court of Appeals remand order. The Court of Appeals shall expedite its consideration of this case.
We do not retain jurisdiction.