Important Cases
A list of recent cases decided by the D.C. Court of Appeals website. Note: if the links are broken, visit the Opinions page on the D.C. Court of Appeals Website.
In re Sa.C. et al., S.C., Appellant (February 8, 2018)
Order denying motions of GAL and government to dismiss the parent's appeal of a "retroactive" Ta.L. permanency goal decision. A permanency goal was changed prior to the Court of Appeals' decision in In re Ta.L. After that decision was handed down, the trial court held a "retroactive Ta.L" hearing regarding that permanency goal change. Citing the "firm rule of retroactivity," the Court of Appeals stated that because the neglect case was still being litigated in the trial court when In re Ta.L. was issued, the trial court properly sought to follow In re Ta.L. in making its decision to change the permanency goal from reunification to adoption. Link.
J.U. v. J.C.P.C. (Jan. 4, 2018)
Trial court's denial of Special Immigrant Juvenile finding reversed. Link.
In re Petition of J.O. and P.O. (Dec. 12, 2017)
Analysis of what constitutes parental "competence" such that the parent's choice of caregivers is entitled to weighty consideration. Link.