Judge continues reunification track after 90-day review; father criticized for lack of engagement, mother praised for sobriety and employment plans

A Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court judge continued the case’s reunification goal and the child’s placement with a rural relative after a 90-day review and permanency planning hearing, and scheduled a further review for July 8 at 11 a.m.

The hearing focused on two parents: Christina Lemley, who the department’s worker and other witnesses said has sustained sobriety and recently accepted employment, and Matthew Wright, who the department said has been largely noncompliant with services and hard to reach. "I would say Matthew is noncompliant," Macey Moore, a foster-care worker with Catholic Charities, told the court during testimony.

The hearing matter began with a court report and attachments that included ICWA documentation, a nonmedical immunization waiver, a psychological evaluation, and a report of a missed DNA appointment for Mr. Wright. The department moved to admit the court report; there were no sustained objections recorded on the record and the report was placed in evidence.

Moore described Ms. Lemley’s…