In re Joseph C.

LIPEZ, Justice.

[¶ 1] The mother of Joseph C. appeals from the entry of the judgment in the District Court (Bangor, Hjelm, J.) terminating her parental rights as to her son, Joseph. She contends that the court erred by refus*1099ing to leave the record open to allow her court-appointed expert a reasonable time to complete his psychological examination. We agree, and we vacate the judgment.

I

[¶2] Joseph C., age 9, has been in the custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS) since 1993. On February 27, 1996, DHS filed a petition for termination of the mother’s parental rights.1 At a pre-trial…