Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
In Re: M.L.R.; Apl of: E.L.R., Mother and M.L.R.
February 18, 2026
Summary
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the Superior Court’s reversal of a trial‑court order terminating a father’s parental rights, holding that the Adoption Act’s “cause shown” exception under § 2901 applies only when a petition anticipates an adoption, which was absent here. The Court also rejected the majority’s two‑step test and upheld the abuse‑of‑discretion standard of review. Justice Wecht dissented, arguing the majority’s interpretation was wrong, while Justice Dougherty concurred with the majority.