The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.
SC20151 - In re Taijha H.-B. (Termination of Parental Rights; Practice Book § 79a-3; appointed attorney declined to pursue an appeal; “The principal issue presented by this certified appeal is whether an appellate review attorney appointed to represent an indigent parent in an appeal from the termination of his or her parental rights must follow the procedure set forth in Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), before being permitted to withdraw from representation on the ground that he or she is unable to identify any nonfrivolous basis for appeal. We hold that when, as in the present case, the circumstances are such that the indigent parent has a constitutional right to appellate counsel, counsel may not be permitted to withdraw without, first, demonstrating, whether in the form of an Anders brief or in the context of a hearing, that the record has been thoroughly reviewed for potential meritorious issues, and, second, taking steps sufficient to facilitate review of the case, by the indigent parent and the presiding court, for the purpose of a determination as to whether the attorney accurately concluded that any appeal would be meritless”.)
AC42633 - In re Adrian K.
(“The respondent father, Luis K., appeals from the judgment
of the trial court denying his motion to dismiss an order of temporary custody
and modifying the dispositive order from protective supervision with the mother
to commitment to the custody of the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and
Families. The respondent claims that (1) the court improperly denied his motion
to dismiss the order of temporary custody for lack of subject matter jurisdiction,
and (2) the court’s denial of his motion to dismiss violated his right to due
process under the fourteenth amendment to the United States constitution. We
disagree and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)
AC42499 - In re Skylar
F. (Child neglect; "The respondent father appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying his motion to open the judgment of neglect that was rendered after the respondent was defaulted for his failure to attend a case status conference. On appeal, the respondent claims that the court improperly denied his motion to open because the record does not support a finding that he received "actual adequate notice of the [case status] conference in violation of his rights to the due process of law." We disagree and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC42478 - In re Leo L. (Third party; motion to transfer guardianship to grandfather;
(“On appeal, the intervenor contends that the court
erroneously determined that the transfer of guardianship would not be in the
children’s best interests and, thus, abused its discretion in denying his
motion. We disagree and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)
AC41830, AC41889 - In re Anaishaly C. (Claim that there was no evidence that respondents' use of
marijuana affected their ability to parent, and that because law concerning
criminalization of marijuana had changed, that change had to be reflected in
law concerning child protection. “The respondents contend that the court
improperly concluded that (1) they failed to achieve the requisite degree of
personal rehabilitation required by General Statutes § 17a-112, and (2) termination
of their parental rights was in the best interests of the children. We affirm
the judgments of the trial court.”)
AC42512 - In re Natalia M. (“On appeal, the respondent claims that the Department of
Children and Families (department) violated his rights to due process of law by
failing to provide adequate visitation with his child, which, he claims, ultimately
led the court to terminate his parental rights after erroneously concluding
that the department had made reasonable efforts at reunification, pursuant to §
17a-112 (j) (1). The respondent does not claim that the court erred in its conclusion
that he was unable or unwilling to benefit from reunification efforts. Because the
respondent challenges only one of the two bases for the court’s determination
that § 17a-112 (j) (1) had been satisfied, we conclude that the respondent’s appeal
is moot.”)
AC41709 - In re Avia M. ("The respondent mother appeals from the judgment of the trial
court terminating her parental rights with respect to her daughter, Avia M.
(child). On appeal, the respondent claims that the trial court improperly
concluded that the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families,
proved by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the Department of Children and
Families made reasonable efforts to reunify her, (2) she was unable or
unwilling to achieve the requisite degree of personal rehabilitation, and (3)
it was in the child’s best interest to terminate her parental rights. We affirm
the judgment of the trial court.")
AC41875- In re Malachi E.
(“On appeal, the respondent claims that the court erred in determining
that the termination of her parental rights was in the best interest of the
child because (1) the court relied entirely on its adjudicatory determination that
the respondent had failed to achieve sufficient personal rehabilitation, and
(2) there was no evidence to support its determination that the termination of
her parental rights was in the best interest of the child. We affirm the
judgment of the trial court.”)
AC41819 - In re Bianca K. ("On appeal the respondent claims that the court improperly concluded
that (1) by the clear and convincing evidence adduced at the termination
hearing, she had failed to achieve sufficient personal rehabilitation within
the meaning of General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) (i), and (2) that the
termination of her parental rights was in the best interest of the child. We
affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC41577 - In re Angelina M. ("The self-represented respondent mother appeals from the
judgment of the trial court terminating her parental rights as to Angelina M.,
her minor child. She contends that the court improperly concluded that (1) she failed
to achieve the requisite degree of personal rehabilitation required by General Statutes
§ 17a-112 and (2) termination of her parental rights was in the best interest
of the child. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC41829 - In re Tresin J. ("On appeal, the respondent claims that the trial court erred
when it determined, pursuant to General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3) (D), that no
ongoing parent-child relationship exists between the respondent and Tresin. We
affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC40692 - Maria G. v. Commissioner of Children & Families (Whether trial court properly concluded that foreign court's judgment was not required to be enforced as matter of comity; "The petitioner, Maria G., appeals from the trial court's rendering of summary judgment in favor of the respondent, the Commissioner of Children and Families, on the petitioner's writ of habeas corpus seeking custody of the minor child, Santiago. On appeal, the petitioner claims that the court erroneously failed to credit a Guatemalan court's decree, which purportedly granted her parental guardianship rights over, and custody of, Santiago, when the court concluded that (1) public policy prohibited recognition of the decree because it was premised on a false birth certificate, and (2) the decree was obtained without notice to the respondent. We affirm the judgment of the court.")
AC41742 - In re Gabriella C.-G., et al: (Termination of parental rights; “She claims on appeal that the
court erred in (1) violating her constitutional rights by holding her to ‘unlawful,
vague, high standards of care, compared to all the other parties . . .
associated with the care and keeping’ of the five children, (2) denying ‘the
right to a comparison of the foster parents . . . and [the Department of
Children and Families (the department)] provided level of care that she was
held to,’ including not allowing an injury report from the Office of the Child
Advocate as to Dallas, (3) finding that the department made ‘reasonable
efforts’ to reunify her with any of her five children, (4) making the
statement, ‘this family can’t and won’t benefit from reunification’… and (5) stating
that ‘it’s in the best interest’… of the five minor children for her to lose her parental rights.…Having reviewed the findings of
the court as set forth in its thoughtful and thorough decision, we conclude
that under the applicable standards of review, they are sufficiently supported
by the evidence and not clearly erroneous. The judgments are affirmed.”)
AC41451 - In re Lilyana L.- (Termination of parental rights; claim of deliberate, nonaccidental assault;
"
On appeal, the respondent claims that the trial court erred
when it determined, pursuant to General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3) (F), that the
respondent committed an assault, through a deliberate, nonaccidental act that
resulted in serious bodily injury to another child of the parent. We affirm the
judgment of the trial court.")
AC41531 - In re Zakai F. ("The respondent mother, Kristi F., appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying her motion for reinstatement of guardianship of her minor son, Zakai F. The respondent claims that the court violated her fundamental right to the care and custody of Zakai under the United States constitution by denying her motion (1) without a showing that she was unfit, and (2) without a finding by clear and convincing evidence that Zakai would be at a substantial risk of physical or emotional harm if the current guardianship of him by his aunt, the respondent's sister, were terminated. The respondent additionally claims that the court abused its discretion in concluding that her reinstatement as guardian was not in Zakai's best interest. We disagree with the respondent's claims and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the court.")
AC41469 - In re Madison M. ("On appeal, the respondent claims that he was not provided
the specific steps mandated by General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) (i) and,
consequently, was unable to achieve a level of rehabilitation that would
reasonably encourage a belief that at some future date he could assume a responsible
position in the lives of his children. Additionally, the respondent contends
that the failure to provide him with the specific steps did not constitute harmless
error. We do not agree with either argument and, therefore, affirm the
judgments of the trial court.")
AC41349 - In re Joheli V. (Termination of parental rights; "The respondent father, Luis V., appeals from the judgment of the trial court terminating his parental rights with respect to his minor child, Joheli V. On appeal, the respondent claims that the court erred when it determined, pursuant to General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B), that he had failed to achieve such degree of personal rehabilitation as would encourage the belief that within a reasonable time, considering the age and needs of Joheli, he could assume a responsible position in her life, based solely upon the fact that he is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial for allegedly sexually assaulting Joheli. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC41106 - In re Briana G.
(Termination of parental rights to three minor children; “On
appeal, the respondent claims that the court (1) prematurely determined that
the respondent failed to rehabilitate because the Department of Children and Families
(department) did not provide him with sufficient time and resources to do so,
and (2) improperly admitted into evidence transcripts of text messages obtained
by the police, although a proper chain of custody was not proved prior to their
admission. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.”)
AC41248, AC41249 - In re Katherine H., In re James H.("In these consolidated appeals, the self-represented
respondent mother, Ann C., appeals from the judgments of the trial court
finding her minor children, Katherine H. and James H., neglected and committing
them to the custody of the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and
Families. On appeal, the respondent essentially takes issue with the manner in
which the Department of Children and Families (department) performed its
responsibilities and the court’s factual findings. We affirm the judgments of the
trial court.")
AC41157- In re Zoey H. ("The respondent claims that (1) his right to procedural due
process under the United States constitution was violated by the court’s
failure to hold a hearing to determine his fitness as a parent before depriving
him of the custody and care of his child, and (2) as applied, General Statutes
§ 46b-129 (m) violates his right to substantive due process under the United
States constitution and improperly assigns the burden of proof to him. We
affirm the judgment of the trial court.")
AC40809 - In re Athena C. (Petition by the Commissioner of Children and Families to
terminate parental rights; “The respondent claims that the trial court
improperly (1) determined that the termination of his parental rights was in
the child’s best interest; and (2) denied his motion to transfer guardianship
of the child to the child’s maternal grandmother (grandmother). We affirm the
judgment of the trial court.")