Appeals court vacates Jackson’s termination of imprisoned father’s parental rights

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has overturned Dickson County Juvenile Court Judge Andy Jackson’s termination of a father’s parental rights after finding the man’s rights to due process were denied. In an opinion written by Judge Frank Clement Jr. filed last week, the three-judge panel vacated Jackson’s termination of T.J. Jordan’s parental rights and remanded the case back to court with instructions that the judge comply with state law. In June 2011, Jackson terminated Jordan’s parental rights to a minor child under eight years old identified only in the ruling as J.T.J. Jackson ruled that Jordan did not respond to the termination petition, did not contest it in court, did not establish parentage and his imprisonment constitutes parental abandonment. But the appeals panel said Jordan, who is serving a 20-year sentence in the Riverbend Maximum Security Prison, was not given proper notice of the proceedings, did not waive his right to contest the petition and was denied his right to a court-appointed attorney. A couple identified only as Jeffrey G. and Brenda G. filed a petition to terminate the biological parents’ rights and adopt the child in 2010. During the process, Jackson appointed an attorney for the mother and an attorney to serve as guardian ad litem for the child, but did not appoint counsel for the father. Jackson denied the petition to terminate the mother’s parental rights.