A.D. v. Department of Children & Families

The Appellant, A.D., as the father of Ke.Q., seeks to reverse the trial court’s final judgment terminating the parental rights of Ke.Q.’s mother. The Appellant argues that he was denied due process when the trial court refused to appoint counsel for him at the Mother’s termination of parental rights proceedings and as a result, he was also denied his right to be heard at her trial.

Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.146 permits “any parent ... to the proceeding affected by an order of the lower tribunal” to appeal the final judgment. (Emphasis added). “[I]ndividuals who were ‘not parties to…