In re Josyah L.-T.

Syllabus

The respondent mother appealed to this court from the judgment of the trial court terminating her parental rights with respect to her minor child. She claimed that this court should recognize her right to be the child's legal guardian because she would be a better caregiver to him than the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families. The trial court granted the termination petition, concluding by clear and convincing evidence that the Department of Children and Families had made reasonable efforts to reunify the respondent with the child but that the respondent was unable or unwilling to benefit from those efforts and had not achieved the degree of personal rehabilitation that would encourage the belief that, within a reasonable period of time, considering the child's age and needs, she could assume a responsible position in his life. Held that the judgment of the trial court terminating the respondent's parental rights was affirmed, as the respondent abandoned any possible claim related to the judgment by failing to identify in her brief to this court any claim of legal or factual error that the trial court made in its decision; accordingly, as the respondent's status as a self- represented party did not permit this court to overlook that omission, this court was unable to afford her any relief in connection with this appeal. Argued February 28—officially released March 20, 2024