Cora G. v. State of Alaska, Dhss, Ocs, Justin D. v. State of Alaska, Dhss, Ocs

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court held that Alaska’s child‑in‑need‑of‑aid (CINA) statutes require the trial court to affirmatively offer and qualify a qualified expert witness when finding a child has suffered mental injury, and that the superior court’s failure to do so was not harmless error. Accordingly, the court vacated the termination of parental rights and remanded for further proceedings.