People v. Diane N.

Following an evidentiary hearing in the circuit court of Kane County, the circuit court found that respondents, Diane N. and Mark N., were unfit parents under section 1(D) (m) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1 (D)(m) (West 1996)), because they failed to make “reasonable progress” toward the return of their daughter, C.N., within 12 months of her adjudication as a neglected minor. The circuit court subsequently terminated respondents’ parental rights to C.N., and respondents appealed. The appellate court reversed, holding that the circuit court’s finding of unfitness was against the manifest…