In the Interest of L.N. v. Department of Children & Family Services

SILBERMAN, Judge.

A.C.N., the Mother, appeals the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to L.N. She challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting termination and also argues that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel because her counsel was not present at the first of four evidentiary hearings. We agree that the Mother was denied the meaningful assistance of counsel and reverse the termination order.

L.N. was born on September 9, 1992, and was taken into custody by the Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) on October 3, 1992. L.N. was…