Ex parte F.V.O. (In re F.V.O. v. Coffee County Department of Human Resources)

Summary

The court held that the juvenile court's findings that reunification efforts had failed and that adoption was the appropriate permanency plan did not adjudicate the mother's substantive rights and therefore were not final, appealable judgments. It reversed the Court of Civil Appeals and remanded with instructions to dismiss the mother's appeal and return the matter to the juvenile court for further proceedings. Justice Murdock concurred specially, while Justices Stuart, Bolin, and Shaw dissented because they viewed the permanency orders as final and immediately appealable.