Opinion
No. 20220027 No. 20220028 No. 20220029 No. 20220030
03-17-2022
In the INTEREST OF T.H., a child State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. T.H., Child; C.H., Father; and Sharla Price, Guardian ad Litem; Respondents and A.S., Mother; Respondent and Appellant In the Interest of A.H., a child State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. A.H., Child; C.H., Father; and Sharla Price, Guardian ad Litem, Respondents and A.S., Mother, Respondent and Appellant In the Interest of N.S., a child State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. N.S., Child; I.S., Father; and Sharla Price, Guardian ad Litem, Respondents and A.S., Mother, Respondent and Appellant In the Interest of M.S., a child State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. M.S., Child ; I.S., Father; and Sharla Price, Guardian ad Litem, Respondents and A.S., Mother, Respondent and Appellant
Mary E. Melech, Special Assistant State's Attorney, Bismarck, ND, for petitioner and appellee; submitted on brief. Justin M. Balzer, Bismarck, ND, for respondent and appellant; submitted on brief.
Mary E. Melech, Special Assistant State's Attorney, Bismarck, ND, for petitioner and appellee; submitted on brief.
Justin M. Balzer, Bismarck, ND, for respondent and appellant; submitted on brief.
Per Curiam.
[¶1] A.S., the mother, appealed from juvenile court orders terminating her parental rights to her children, T.H., A.H., N.S., and M.S. The mother argues the juvenile court erred by finding there was clear and convincing evidence the children are in need of protection and the need for protection is likely to continue.
[¶2] The juvenile court found the children are in need of protection and there is clear and convincing evidence the conditions and causes of the need for protection are likely to continue or will not be remedied and for that reason the children are suffering or will probably suffer serious physical, mental, moral, or emotional harm. The juvenile court also found the children had been in foster care for at least 450 out of the previous 660 nights. See N.D.C.C. § 27-20.3-20(1)(c) (stating the court may terminate parental rights if the child is in need of protection and the court finds that the conditions and causes of the need for protection are likely to continue or that the child has been in foster care for at least 450 out of the previous 660 nights). We conclude the court's findings are supported by clear and convincing evidence and are not clearly erroneous. See In re A.L.E. , 2018 ND 257, ¶ 4, 920 N.W.2d 461 (stating the elements required for termination of parental rights must be established by clear and convincing evidence and the court's findings are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard of review). We also conclude the court did not abuse its discretion when it terminated the mother's parental rights. See In re B.H. , 2018 ND 178, ¶ 4, 915 N.W.2d 668 (stating the juvenile court has discretion in deciding whether termination of parental rights would promote the children's welfare when the petitioner has met its burden).
[¶3] We summarily affirm the orders under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).
[¶4] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
Gerald W. VandeWalle
Daniel J. Crothers
Lisa Fair McEvers
Jerod E. Tufte