(Modified upon denial of rehearing 6/28/19.) Court entered order terminating Respondent mother's parental rights as to her 2 minor children. Respondent continually failed to fully comply with requirements of services: substance abuse treatment, random drug screens, psychiatric treatment, medication monitoring, and individual therapy. Although court did not directly ascertain the minors' preferences, no single best-interests factor is dispositive. Although minors had a significant relationship with their mother, court's termination of her parental rights was not against manifest weight of evidence. No indication that mother's trial counsel violated Rule 1.2 by not seeking to withdraw at a late stage in termination proceedings. Respondent failed to show that presenting her testimony in a primarily narrative form fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.(HALL and LAMPKIN, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights