FAMILY LAW CASES

• Taylor-Holmes v. Office of the Cook County Public Guardian
• In re Jose C.
• Marriage of Witherspoon

U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, September 24, 2007
Taylor-Holmes v. Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, No. 06-3989
Appeal from a dismissal of plaintiff's lawsuit against a child protective agency is dismissed where a letter sent to the plaintiff by the district court judge indicated that the judge didn't think that she was through with the case, therefore the order of dismissal was non-final and unappealable. Read more...

California Appellate Districts, September 26, 2007
In re Jose C., No. F052049
Order terminating mother's parental rights is affirmed over claims that the juvenile court erred in: 1) finding the Indian Child Welfare Act did not apply in this case; 2) not requiring the minors to be enrolled as members of the Caddo Nation; and 3) not requiring continuing Indian Child Welfare Act notice to the tribe throughout the proceedings. Read more...

California Appellate Districts, September 27, 2007
Marriage of Witherspoon, No. G037889
Order requiring the return to Germany of father's two children under the Hague Convention, declaring California an inconvenient forum, and awarding mother temporary custody of children pending their return to Germany is reversed where the trial court erred in failing to make factual findings regarding certain enumerated exceptions to the children's return under the Convention, and in awarding temporary custody of the children to mother without considering whether doing so would pose a substantial risk of harm to them. Read more...