In re C.R.

{¶ 25} In In re Hockstok, 98 Ohio St.3d 238, 2002-Ohio-7208, 781 N.E.2d 971, ¶ 18, this court stated, “[A] finding of parental unsuitability has been recognized by this court as a necessary first step in child custody proceedings between a natural parent and nonparent.” To the contrary, in this case, we hold in paragraphs one and two of the syllabus that an adjudication that a child is abused, neglected, or dependent is an implicit finding that both natural parents are unsuitable. This implicit determination is too sweeping and does not allow the trial judge discretion to determine that a…