Hunter v. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs. & Minor Child

Appellant Derrick Hunter appeals from the March 28, 2018 order of the Columbia County Circuit Court terminating his parental rights to his son, J.H. Hunter argues that he was denied due process because (1) he was not provided assistance of counsel until the termination hearing and (2) sufficient evidence did not support the termination. We affirm.

On August 19, 2016, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) exercised an emergency seventy-two-hour hold on newborn J.H. when both J.H. and his mother, Jessica Otwell, tested positive for amphetamines at the time of J.H.'s birth.1 At the time…