Respondent appealed from a trial court order finding him to be an unfit parent and terminating his parental rights over his minor son. Respondent argued on appeal that the trial court’s findings were against the manifest weight of the evidence because the State did not establish that he had failed ot maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern, or responsibility over his son, that he failed to make a reasonable effort to correct the conditions that were the basis for removal, and that he had demonstrated an intent to forgo his parental rights by failing to visit or communicate with his son. The appellate court affirmed, finding that the trial court order was not against the manifest weight of the evidence where respondent failed to make any progress toward reunification during the relevant nine-month period and where respondent failed to visit the child or to communicate with the child agency for a period of 12 months. (HOWSE and ELLIS, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights