A.F., father of A.B., a minor child, Appellant, v. M.B., mother of A.B., a minor child, Appellee. (2007)

District Court of Appeal of Florida,First District.

A.F., father of A.B., a minor child, Appellant, v. M.B., mother of A.B., a minor child, Appellee.

No. 1D06–1858.

Decided: January 25, 2007

Jennifer Cogdill, Fleming Island, for Appellant. Frank E. Maloney, Jr., P.A., Macclenny, for Appellee.

A.F. appeals an order terminating his parental rights. Finding appellant to be indigent, the trial court appointed counsel to represent him both in the proceedings below and before this court. As an indigent, appellant is also entitled to the preparation of a record of sufficient completeness to permit proper appellate review. See M.L.B. v. S.L.J., 519 U.S. 102, 117 S.Ct. 555, 136 L.Ed.2d 473 (1996). However, a court reporter was not present at the final hearing below, and the trial court has informed us that efforts to reconstruct the record of that hearing have been unsuccessful. Accordingly, we are constrained to reverse the trial court's order and remand for a new trial. See M.T. v. Dep't of Health and Rehabilitative Serv., 680 So.2d 1118 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996).

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

PER CURIAM.

VAN NORTWICK, PADOVANO, and POLSTON, JJ., concur.

Was this helpful?

Why was this helpful?

Easy to understand

Solved my problem

Other

Why was this not helpful?

Missing the information I need

Too complicated / too many steps

Out of date

Other

Thank you for your feedback!

Trusted by Consumers. Recognized by AI.

As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.

Explore the Network