The Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court convened a consolidated permanency planning review and a termination-petition hearing that the clerk introduced "as it relates to Justin King," while defense filings and counsel identified the father throughout the hearing as Dustin (Dustin/Justin) King. Counsel, the guardian ad litem and department staff presented medical evidence and case reports bearing on whether the court should continue the case or grant termination of parental rights.

In the morning session the court heard brief medical testimony from the father's treating neurologist, Dr. Nasrat. Dr. Nasrat said MRI imaging showed a benign arachnoid cyst, explained that the lesion "may not affect him at all" but can sometimes cause headaches and — if it enlarges — seizures or focal weakness, and reported a negative EEG that made significant seizure activity unlikely at present. On scheduling and treatment he told the court any procedure would depend on insurance authorization; he could not give a confirmed date. The doctor testified that, on current evidence, he did not expect the cyst to prevent the father from parenting unless future complications such as seizures occur.

The department's foster-care worker, Megan Latour, and supervisor Ashley Beach testified about the family's history, services offered and the children's current status. Latour told the court the father's engagement with his case service plan had been "minimal" through most of the case, with somewhat increased contact beginning in November and December 2025 (appointments and one team meeting were noted). Latour said the father returned texts and emails within 48–72 hours but did not initiate contact to check on the children and had not completed recommended parenting education or the psychiatric evaluation suggested in the psychological report.

Beach, who signed the department's petition seeking termination, told the court the children entered care on November 21, 2024. She described the children as arriving to care with severe unmet needs — dental decay that required sedation and extractions, medical and developmental delays, toileting and feeding problems, and behavioral issues — and said they have since accessed medical, dental and therapeutic services and shown marked progress in placement. Beach listed the agency's principal concerns as domestic violence between the father and a named parental partner, and the father's unstable mental-health presentation and inconsistent cooperation with providers. She said some reported medical conditions the father cited in communications were recorded as patient-reported in agency records and not corroborated by returned provider records except for documentation that the neurology practice had been monitoring the arachnoid cyst.

Defense counsel called family witnesses, including the father's mother, who described the father as previously involved and caring with children and disputed some characterizations of his capacity. The court did not record any formal vote or ruling during the morning; it admitted the department's reports and attachments into evidence and noted proof of service of the termination petition. The hearing recessed for lunch at 11:49 a.m. and is scheduled to resume at 1:15 p.m. for further testimony and argument.

The parties referenced MCR 3.976 (Michigan Court Rule on permanency planning hearings) during argument about witness lists and notice; the court allowed limited witness testimony from the neurologist to address the narrow question of how medical conditions may have affected the father's performance during the last report period and prospects moving forward.

Next steps: the hearing will continue after the recess; no final decision was recorded in the morning session.