FILED
IN THE OFFICE OF THE
CLERK OF SUPREME COURT
AUGUST 19, 2021
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
IN THE SUPREME COURT
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
2021 ND 156
Interest of G.J.E.P., Jr., minor child
State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee
v.
G.J.E.P., Sr., father, Respondent and Appellant
and
G.J.E.P., Jr., child; J.R., mother; Respondents
No. 20210188
Interest of M.V.P., minor child
State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee
v.
G.J.E.P., Sr., father, Respondent and Appellant
and
M.V.P., child; J.R., mother; Respondents
No. 20210189
Appeal from the Juvenile Court of Grand Forks County, Northeast Central
Judicial District, the Honorable John A. Thelen, Judge.
AFFIRMED.
Per Curiam.
Jacqueline A. Gaddie, Assistant State’s Attorney, and Samantha Schmidt,
under the Rule on Limited Practice of Law by Law Students, Grand Forks, ND,
for petitioner and appellee; submitted on brief.
Ashley K. Schell, Williston, ND, for respondent and appellant; submitted on
brief.
Interest of G.J.E.P. and M.V.P. - Nos. 20210188 and 20210189
Per Curiam.
[¶1] G.P. Sr. appeals from a juvenile court judgment terminating his parental
rights to G.P. Jr. and M.P. G.P. Sr. argues the evidence presented at trial does
not support a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that it was in the
children’s best interests to terminate his parental rights. He claims
alternatives to termination were available. After reviewing the record, the
court’s findings are supported by clear and convincing evidence and are not
clearly erroneous. The court did not abuse its discretion in terminating G.P.
Sr.’s parental rights. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and
(4).
[¶2] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
Gerald W. VandeWalle
Daniel J. Crothers
Lisa Fair McEvers
Jerod E. Tufte
1
Interest of G.J.E.P.
Combined Opinion