In re the Interest of INFANT CHILD J
Feb 28, 2000OUTCOME: Client won appeal.
Former prospective adoptive parents moved to dispense with agency's consent to adoption and to finalize adoption. The King County Superior Court, James Street, J., sua sponte retained jurisdiction and ... stayed decision for 14 months. Agency appealed. The Court of Appeals held that: (1) adoption court lacked statutory authority to enter “conditional adoption” and stay proceedings; (2) delay was contrary to child's best interests; (3) delay interfered with agency's responsibilities for unacceptable length of time; (4) court did not abuse its discretion in denying agency's motion for reconsideration; and (5) future cases should be decided based on evidence available to court at conclusion of hearing.
