Colbert v. Dora

Respondent Raquel Dora appeals the trial court’s order awarding permanent custody of her two minor children to their great-grandmother, petitioner Mable Colbert.

Respondent argues petitioner lacked standing under section 601(b)(2) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/601(b)(2) (West 1992)) (the Act), and the trial court: (1) improperly exercised plenary jurisdiction to base the custody award upon equitable principles; (2) denied the parties due process by prematurely ruling on the merits before addressing respondent’s motion to strike the emergency custody…