IN RE LESLIE JOHN LESTER MINOR
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of LESLIE JOHN LESTER, Minor.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
June 30, 2000
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
PATRICIA LYNN RUSSELL, a/k/a PATRICIA
LYNN LESTER,
No. 220871
Wayne Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 95-328573
Respondent-Appellant,
and
LESLIE RUSSELL,
Respondent.
Before: Gage, P.J., and Gribbs and Sawyer, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent mother appeals from an order of the probate court terminating her parental rights to
the minor child pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g), (j) and (l); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i),
(g), (j) and (l). We affirm.
In making a termination decision, the trial court must engage in a two-step analysis. First, it
must determine if a statutory ground for termination has been established by clear and convincing
evidence. Second, if a statutory ground has been established, the trial court must terminate parental
rights unless it finds that termination is clearly not in the child’s best interests. In re Hall-Smith, 222
Mich App 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997).
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The Court has carefully reviewed the record on appeal, the opinion of the probate court, and
the parties’ briefs. We are not persuaded that the trial court erred in finding that the statutory grounds
for termination were met and that it was in the best interests of the child to terminate the parental rights.
Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in terminating respondent’s parental rights.
Affirmed.
/s/ Hilda R. Gage
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
/s/ David H. Sawyer
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