Respondent appealed from the circuit court’s termination of his parental rights over two of his children following an unfitness hearing and a best interest hearing. On appeal, respondent argued that the court erroneously found him unfit because reunification services were not available to him while he was incarcerated and that the trial court erred in its best interest determination because it incorrectly found him unfit. The appellate court affirmed, explaining that the trial court’s finding that respondent was unfit was not against the manifest weight of the evidence where the record established that respondent’s actions and inactions indicated a complete lack of intent to pursue services needed to reunite him with his children and that this pattern of inaction began before respondent was incarcerated and continued after his incarceration. (McBRIDE and HOWSE, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights