In re M.I.

Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights
Citation
Case Number: 
2016 IL 120232
Decision Date: 
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Holding: 
Circuit court affirmed.
Justice: 
GARMAN

Evidence of father's sporadic visitation with his minor daughter sufficiently warrants juvenile court's finding of unfitness, as attending visitation was not a task beyond his intellectual capacity. Lack of service plan or service modifications do not excuse father's sporadic attendance. Plain language of subsection (b) of Adoption Act does not contain a willfulness requirement. Juvenile court's finding that father is unfit pursuant to subsection (b) was not against manifest weight of evidence. (KARMEIER, FREEMAN, THOMAS, KILBRIDE, BURKE, and THEIS, concurring.)