In the Interest of K.F.

NEUMAN, Justice.

This is an appeal from a juvenile court judgment severing a mother-child relationship. 1 The controversy brings into sharp focus the painful choices thrust upon the State as parens patriae when a natural parent suffers from a chronic mental illness. We transferred the case to the court of appeals which, on a five to one vote, reversed the juvenile court. Having granted applications by the State and the child’s guardian ad litem for further review, we now vacate the court of appeals decision and affirm the judgment of the juvenile court.

I. Familiar principles guide our…