In re Braxton M., 2017 ME 197

Summary

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a judgment terminating both parents’ parental rights to Braxton M. The court held that clear and convincing evidence supported findings of parental unfitness, including the parents’ inability to protect the child from jeopardy, failure to engage in reunification services, and failure to make a good-faith effort to rehabilitate and reunify.

Holdings

1. The evidence supported the trial court's findings that the parents were unable to protect Braxton from jeopardy or take responsibility for him within a time reasonably calculated to meet his needs and had failed to make a good-faith effort to rehabilitate and reunify with him.
2. The trial court's determination that termination of the parents' parental rights was in Braxton's best interest was supported by the evidence.
3. The trial court did not err or abuse its discretion in finding the parents unfit and terminating their parental rights.

Questions Presented

1. Whether competent evidence and clear and convincing evidence supported the trial court's findings that the parents were unable to protect Braxton from jeopardy or take responsibility for him within a time reasonably calculated to meet his needs.
2. Whether the evidence supported the finding that the parents failed to make a good-faith effort to rehabilitate and reunify with Braxton.
3. Whether termination of the parents' parental rights was in Braxton's best interest.
4. Whether the trial court erred or abused its discretion in determining that the parents were unfit and terminating their parental rights.

Disposition

affirmed