Leon County

J.B. challenged her termination of parental rights, arguing her attorney was ineffective in
representing her in the trial court. The First District Court of Appeal upheld the lower
court’s ruling to terminate J.B.’s parental rights. However, the 1st DCA also certified two
questions of great public importance for this Court’s review. The questions deal with the
standard of proof and the procedure to be followed if parents argue they did not receive
a fair hearing because of ineffective counsel.