FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF SUPREME COURT JULY 29, 2021 STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 2021 ND 138 In the Matter of the Adoption of M.E., a child

W.E. and D.E., Petitioners v. L.H., Respondent and Appellant

No. 20210172 Appeal from the District Court of Grand Forks County, Northeast Central Judicial District, the Honorable Donald Hager, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Per Curiam.

Rhiannon L. Gorham, Grand Forks, ND, for respondent and appellant; submitted on brief.

In the Matter of the Adoption of M.E.

No. 20210172 Per Curiam. [¶1] L.H. appeals from a district court order terminating his parental rights to M.E., in connection with a petition for adoption. L.H. argues on appeal the court clearly erred by finding he abandoned M.E., and the court abused its discretion by terminating his parental rights. We conclude the court’s findings were not clearly erroneous and the court did not abuse its discretion by terminating L.H.’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