District Of Columbia Adoption Court Cases

District of Columbia Court Case: In re Adoption of a Minor
This case involves the validity of an adoption decree in the District Court. It was prepared, heard, and decided before our decision in Barnes v. Paanakker, 72 App.D.C. 39, 111 F.2d 193. As in that case, at the time of judgment, the District Court had not promulgated rules to govern such roceedings in accordance with Congress' express authorization. In lieu of such rules we must give a special independent consideration to the question whether the procedure in the District Court fully protected the interests of the adoptee...


District of Columbia Court Case: Petition of R.M.G.
In this case of competing petitions for adoption of a black child, we review a trial court decision granting the petition of the child's black grandparents and denying the petition of her white foster parents. Applying all relevant factors, the trial court found both families suitable to adopt the child, but concluded that the race factor tipped the scales in favor of the black grandparents. Although race, among other factors, can be relevant in deciding between competing petitions for adoption, the statute expressly incorporating that factor, as well as the trial court's application of it, must survive "strict scrutiny," in order to comport with the equal protection...


District of Columbia Court Case: Cooley v. Washington
Chief Judge. The unusual contest between a natural mother and a stepmother for custody of a child whose adopting parents are deceased is the subject of review in this appeal. In 1944 a son was born to appellant, who was unmarried at the time and living with her mother in Virginia. When the child was eighteen months old appellant's mother became ill, and in order that appellant might devote her full time and care to the mother...


District of Columbia Court Case: In re Adoption of Female Infant
Appellants, husband and wife, petitioned the Domestic Relations Branch of the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions for the adoption of a female infant. From the denial of that petition, they have noted the present appeal. In the years between 1951 and 1966, appellants, as foster parents, provided board and care...


District of Columbia Court Case: In the Matter of C.A.P.
Three days after C.A.P.'s birth in May 1970, the mother placed her with the Department of Human Resources (DHR), ostensibly for adoption. Legal consent to adoption was never given, n2 however, and she remained with the DHR with her legal status uncertain until October 1971, when the DHR filed a petition in Superior Court alleging that the child was neglected. n3 After the mother admitted the allegations of neglect...


District of Columbia Court Case: Matter of Adoption of J.S.R.
Over the objection of appellant the natural mother of J.S.R., the court granted a petition for his adoption by his foster parents. She appeals primarily asserting that: (1) the "best interest of the child" standard of the D.C. Code 1973, § 16-304(e) n1 is unconstitutionally vague; (2) to permit adoption of her child over her objection without requiring...


District of Columbia Court Case: Petition of C.E.H.
In this appeal from the Family Division of Superior Court, appellant, the natural mother of C.A.P., a female minor, challenges an order granting the petition of appellee C.E.H. to adopt C.A.P. Appellant claims that the trial court erred in finding that she had abandoned C.A.P. C.A.P. was born on May 10, 1970. Three days later, appellant placed her with the Department of Human Resources (DHR), ostensibly for adoption. At the time, appellant was upset about having given birth to a child out of wedlock...


District of Columbia Court Case: Petition of D.I.S.
On March 23, 1979, the District of Columbia Department of Human Services (hereinafter "DCDHS") placed S.A.O. in the custody of foster father R.G. and foster mother S.J.G. The G.s, a caucasian family with four natural children, had previously provided foster care for approximately ten children...


District of Columbia Court Case: In re D.R.M.
In this appeal from the grant of a petition for adoption, B.M., the natural mother, challenges the trial court's conclusion -- which had the effect of terminating her parental rights -- that her refusal to consent to the adoption was not in the best interest of her child, D.R.M. She asserts that the court erred in applying the statutory standards governing termination of the parent-child relationship...


District of Columbia Court Case: Matter of Baby Girl D.S.
Associate Judge: In this case, the trial court denied, without prejudice, n1 a guardian ad litem's motion to terminate the parental rights of a fifteen-year-old natural mother, T.S. In declining to terminate, the court did not conclude the mother was a fit parent. Rather, by looking ahead to a pending adoption contest in which the foster mother and the maternal grandparents both sought to adopt the baby girl...


District of Columbia Court Case: In re I.B.
Associate Judge: This termination of parental rights (TPR) case involves two young boys, now fourteen and eleven years old, who have lived most of their lives under the protection of the child welfare authorities. They are children of the same mother but different fathers. Appellant, their mother, appeals from an order granting a petition for termination of her parental rights...


District of Columbia Court Case: In re T.W., 623
Before ordering termination of the parent-child relationship between appellant (the mother) and the child T.W., the trial judge made written findings of fact and conclusions of law, which we append here to. n1 Appellant mounts no significant challenge to the trial court's findings of fact, including the fact that the mother has no realistic expectation of being able to provide in the foreseeable future the care and security...

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