Texas Supreme Court weighs sufficiency of evidence in parental-termination appeals

The Supreme Court of Texas heard argument in Case No. 24-0307 on whether evidence at a trial met the clear-and-convincing standard needed to terminate parental rights for a mother and a father, lawyers and justices said during the hour-long session.

Petitioners— counsel, Mr. Kotlarski, told the court, "This is not a case where father was woefully incapable of caring for his children," and argued the record shows the father had provided food, shelter and care and that the undisputed evidence about improvements and the timing of the children—s hospitalizations undercut the endangerment and best-interest findings.

The petitioners, represented by Mr. Kotlarski and Mr. Vaughn, also contested the sufficiency of the evidence that the mother knowingly exposed the children to danger. "This court has warned that a parent's status as a domestic violence victim is no evidence and does not warrant termination," Mr. Vaughn said, pressing…