Adoption of N.L.B. v. C.L.

JOSEPH M. ELLIS, Judge.

This case is a tragic reminder of how difficult it is to balance the best interests of a prospective adoptive child and the rights of a natural parent who opposes termination of his or her parental rights. N.L.B. was born on December 12, 2004, and is now four years old. This termination/adoption case was initially filed in February 2005, a judgment granting adoption was entered after trial on October 19, 2005, and that judgment was appealed to the Supreme Court of Missouri. The Supreme Court handed down its decision on January 7, 2007, reversing the judgment of the…