People v. Steele

This appeal is from a decision by the circuit court of Champaign County adjudging Kathryn Steele to be an unfit parent of Larry Paul, a minor, and terminating her parental rights.. The appellate court reversed, holding that the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Mrs. Steele was unfit. (113 Ill. App. 3d 1171 (Rule 23 order).) We granted the State’s petition for leave to appeal under Rule 315 (87 Ill. 2d R. 315).

Larry Paul is the child of Kathryn Steele and James Paul, a former husband. Larry has a slight case of cerebral palsy and is mildly mentally retarded. He…