Ex Parte L.J. (In Re C.C. v. L.J.)

Summary

The court held that a juvenile court may exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over a termination-of-parental-rights petition even when the case does not involve a child alleged to be delinquent, dependent, or in need of supervision. It concluded that the 2008 Alabama Juvenile Justice Act did not eliminate the juvenile court's previously established jurisdiction over parent-initiated termination proceedings, and that subsequent legislation confirmed that interpretation and applied retroactively. The judgment dismissing the appeal from the juvenile court's order was reversed and the cause was remanded for consideration of arguments left unresolved. Justices Bolin and Shaw concurred in the result based principally on the retroactive 2014 amendment, while Justice Murdock concurred specially and emphasized the statutory history and legislative clarification.