State ex rel. Juvenile Department v. F. W.

The state appeals and the children cross-appeal from judgments dismissing the state’s petition to terminate father’s parental rights to the child E, and the child F’s amended petition to terminate father’s rights with respect to F. The state and the children assert that the court erred in failing to terminate father’s rights under ORS 419B.504 on the ground of unfitness. On de novo review, ORS 419A.200(6)(b), we reverse.

Father, who was 48 years old at the time of trial, has had a troubled life. He first used alcohol at age 12 and first used marijuana at age 14. Throughout most of his life, he…