J.G. v. Dep't of Children & Families

J.G. ("Father"), the natural father of N.S.G.B. ("Child"), appeals the final order terminating his parental rights to Child on the ground of abandonment. Father argues that the trial court erred by: (1) failing to appoint him counsel during a December 28, 2015 arraignment hearing, thereby violating his due process rights; (2) failing to allow him to determine an appropriate placement for Child by consenting to a private adoption; and (3) conducting an improper single-parent termination by advancing with the termination proceeding when the natural mother's ("Mother") termination case was still…