State ex rel. Department of Human Services v. B. S. I.

DEITS, J. pro tempore

The state appeals from a judgment denying its petitions to terminate mother’s parental rights to her children, TI and TH. The state argues that the trial court erred in failing to terminate mother’s rights under ORS 419B.504 on the ground of unfitness. On de novo review, ORS 419A.200(6)(b), we reverse.

The trial in this termination case began in October 2005. For reasons that we will explain, the trial was continued twice, and the final judgment denying the petitions to terminate was not issued until April 2007. Mother was 25 years old at the time that the trial began. TI…