WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2000
The Natural Parents of J.B. vs Florida Dept. of Children & Family Services

No.96,171

Broward County


The natural parents of J.B. were accused of child abuse allegedly involving Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy in a case extensively reported in the media. The Department eventually brought proceedings to terminate parental rights. The parents asked that the proceedings be open to the public despite a state statute closing all such proceedings to the public. The trial court declared the statute unconstitutional. On appeal, the Fourth District Court reversed but certified the question to the Supreme Court.