In re Z.L.

Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Abuse and Neglect
Citation
Case Number: 
2021 IL 126931
Decision Date: 
Thursday, December 2, 2021
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co.
Holding: 
Appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part; circuit court affirmed; remanded.
Justice: 
A. BURKE

Court adjudicated minor and minor's siblings to be abused and neglected minors, and made the minors wards of the court. Appellate court reversed the findings of abuse and neglect, and remanded the case for compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act. Appellate court misapplied the law and facts and erred in reversing findings of abuse and neglect. Case must be remanded for proof of compliance with Indian Child Welfare Act. There is no evidence as to what has transpired in connection with State having sent notification to Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2019. Trial court's conclusion that mother was unable, at time of dispositional hearing, to parent the children was not against manifest weight of evidence. Trial court's finding that minor's birth issues had resolved by the time of the head injuries was not against manifest weight of evidence. State proved that minor was a victim of abusive head trauma, and trial court's finding that minor was physically abused was not against manifest weight of evidence. (GARMAN, THEIS, NEVILLE, M. BURKE, OVERSTREET, and CARTER, concurring.)