O.K.
Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. O.K.
Opinion
lead Opinion
Lui, J.
*1003 Opinion
O.K. (Mother) and Cary B. (Father) appeal from an order terminating parental rights under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26. 1 Mother claims that the trial court erred in rejecting her argument that her son Logan would benefit sufficiently from continuing his relationship with her to satisfy the requirements of the parental relationship exception in section 366.26, subdivision (c)(l)(B)(i). 2 She argues that the trial court improperly required her to prove a “compelling” reason why termination of her parental rights would be detrimental to Logan. She also argues that she proved such a compelling reason despite Logan’s testimony that he preferred adoption by his maternal cousin, who had been caring for him for nearly four years. We reject both arguments and affirm.
BACKGROUND
1. The Juvenile Court Proceedings and Mother’s Relationship with Logan
a. The basis for juvenile court jurisdiction
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) filed a juvenile dependency petition on September 16, 2011, after receiving a report that Logan’s parents were seen smoking methamphetamine in Logan’s presence. The caller also reported…