Mw v. State Dept. of Human Resources

In September 1997, the Madison County Department of Human Resources ("DHR") filed petitions to terminate the parental rights of M.W. (the "mother") and K.G. (the "father") to their two sons, who are twins (the "twins"). Following the presentation of ore tenus evidence, the trial court terminated the parental rights of both parents. The mother appeals.

The mother first argues that the trial court improperly admitted her mental-health records. During the first day of trial, DHR attempted to introduce the mother's mental-health records into evidence. Her attorney objected, on the grounds that the…