In the Interest of M. M.
In the Interest of M. M.
Opinion of the Court
The mother of M. M. filed a petition in juvenile court to terminate the parental rights of her child’s biological father. The father
This case is controlled by the recent decision of In the Interest of M.C.J., 236 Ga. App. 225 (511 SE2d 533) (1999). There, as here, the mother had physical custody of the children and filed a termination petition against the biological father
We note that the Supreme Court of Georgia has granted a writ of certiorari in M. C. J, supra, on May 14, 1999 (Case No. S99C0742). The Supreme Court indicated particular concern with the finding of lack of subject matter jurisdiction in a termination action between a mother and a biological father. Id. But this case must be decided by December 3, 1999, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. VI, Sec. IX, Par. II, and the Supreme Court is not required to render its decision in M. C. J. before then. We are therefore bound by this court’s decision in M. C. J. and must vacate the judgment on the ground of lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Judgment vacated.
Appellee here seeks to distinguish M. C.- J. by contending that the father in that case may have had a legal relationship with the children. But the term “biological father” generally is used in contrast to the term “legal father.” See OCGA § 15-11-83 (e). Furthermore, the grant of certiorari by the Supreme Court of Georgia in M. C. J., see below, explicitly states that the biological father is not the legal father.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.