Interest of G.J.E.P.

2021 ND 156

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: August 19, 2021
• Docket: 20210188
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF SUPREME COURT AUGUST 19, 2021 STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

2021 ND 156

Interest of G.J.E.P., Jr., minor child

State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. G.J.E.P., Sr., father, Respondent and Appellant and G.J.E.P., Jr., child; J.R., mother; Respondents

No. 20210188

Interest of M.V.P., minor child

State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee

v.

G.J.E.P., Sr., father, Respondent and Appellant

and

M.V.P., child; J.R., mother; Respondents

No. 20210189 Appeal from the Juvenile Court of Grand Forks County, Northeast Central Judicial District, the Honorable John A. Thelen, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Per Curiam.

Jacqueline A. Gaddie, Assistant State’s Attorney, and Samantha Schmidt, under the Rule on Limited Practice of Law by Law Students, Grand Forks, ND, for petitioner and appellee; submitted on brief.

Ashley K. Schell, Williston, ND, for respondent and appellant; submitted on brief. Interest of G.J.E.P. and M.V.P. - Nos. 20210188 and 20210189

[¶1] G.P. Sr. appeals from a juvenile court judgment terminating his parental rights to G.P. Jr. and M.P. G.P. Sr. argues the evidence presented at trial does not support a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that it was in the children’s best interests to terminate his parental rights. He claims alternatives to termination were available. After reviewing the record, the court’s findings are supported by clear and convincing evidence and are not clearly erroneous. The court did not abuse its discretion in terminating G.P. Sr.’s parental rights. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).

[¶2] Jon J. Jensen, C.J. Gerald W. VandeWalle Daniel J. Crothers Lisa Fair McEvers Jerod E. Tufte