Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Apr 3, 2025
IN THE MATTER OF A.R.H., a minor, J.M.J. and B.L.N.J., Respondents vs. E.R.T., Jr., Appellant
Father appealed the circuit court's judgment granting the guardians' petition to adopt Child, arguing his trial counsel was ineffective. Father contended counsel failed to object to a due process violation in an underlying juvenile proceeding and failed to properly prepare for the adoption hearing. The appellate court affirmed, finding that the due process claim lacked record support and was unmeritorious, and that counsel's performance, while imperfect, did not amount to being "effectively absent" or deny Father a meaningful hearing.