In Re Niskanen

This appeal brings before us the actions of the St. Louis County Juvenile Court in considering three competing petitions for adoption of two young children, Darral and Tina Turcotte. The children became available for adoption after their natural mother voluntarily terminated her parental rights and the natural father’s rights were adjudicated terminated. Petitioner Bianca Niskanen is the children’s natural maternal grandmother, while petitioners Charles and Julie Hillman have served as the foster parents of Darral and petitioners Robert and Grace Hagensen as the foster parents of Tina.

With a…