In Re Adoption of M.K.C.

I must dissent in this case because the majority is affirming the circuit court’s order despite the fact that it runs completely counter to this court’s holding in In re Adoption of M.K.C., 373 Ark. 603, 285 S.W.3d 605 (2008) (M.K.C. I), and King v. Ochoa, 373 Ark. 600, 285 S.W.3d 602 (2008). The majority’s total about-face from those decisions truly boggles my mind.

The majority concludes that the circuit court did not err in denying the adoption petition because the mother failed to present evidence that the adoption was in the child’s best interest. It is axiomatic that a circuit court must…