IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 18-1993
Filed January 23, 2019
IN THE INTEREST OF M.H.,
Minor Child,
J.O., Mother,
Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Mary L. Timko,
Associate Juvenile Judge.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. AFFIRMED.
John S. Moeller of John S. Moeller, P.C., Sioux City, for appellant mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Theresa Rachel of Fankhauser Rachel, PLC, Sioux City, guardian ad litem
for minor child.
Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Mullins and Bower, JJ.
2
MULLINS, Judge.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her minor child
pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (l) (2018). Her argument on
appeal is limited to her statements of disagreement with the juvenile court’s
conclusions “that the child cannot be returned to the custody of the mother as
provided in section 232.102” and her “prognosis indicates that the child will not be
able to be returned to the custody of the [mother] within a reasonable period of
time considering the child’s age and need for a permanent home.” See Iowa Code
§ 232.116(1)(f)(4), (l)(3). The mother provides no facts, argument, or analysis in
support of her statements of disagreement. Her failure to do so waives error. See
Iowa R. App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(3); see also In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 492 (Iowa
2000) (“A broad, all encompassing argument is insufficient to identify error in cases
of de novo review.”); Hyler v. Garner, 548 N.W.2d 864, 876 (Iowa 1996) (“[W]e will
not speculate on the arguments [a party] might have made and then search for
legal authority and comb the record for facts to support such arguments.”); Inghram
v. Dairyland Mut. Ins. Co., 215 N.W.2d 239, 240 (Iowa 1974) (“To reach the merits
of this case would require us to assume a partisan role and undertake the
appellant’s research and advocacy. This role is one we refuse to assume.”).
Although we acknowledge termination-of-parental-rights appeals are expedited
and the opportunity for briefing is abbreviated, see generally Iowa R. App. P. 6.201,
the mother’s position is not adequately formulated to facilitate our review.
Consequently, we affirm the termination of her parental rights.
AFFIRMED.