Sloan v. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs. ( 2013 )

Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 511ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
No.CV-13-334
BRITTANY SLOAN Opinion Delivered September 18, 2013
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE DALLAS
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V. [NO. JV-12-1-5]
HONORABLE LARRY W.
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CHANDLER, JUDGE
HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR
CHILD AFFIRMED; MOTION TO BE
APPELLEES RELIEVED AS COUNSEL GRANTED
PHILLIP T. WHITEAKER, Judge
This is a no-merit appeal from an order terminating the parental rights of appellant
Brittany Sloan to her child,T.H. Sloan’s attorney has filed a motion to be relieved as counsel
and a no-merit brief pursuant to Linker-Flores v. Arkansas Department of Human Services, 359
Ark. 131, 194 S.W.3d 739 (2004), and Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(i) (2012), asserting
that there are no issues of arguable merit to support the appeal. The brief includes a
discussion of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the termination order, which was the
only adverse ruling by the circuit court.
The clerk of this court sent copies of the brief and motion to be relieved to Sloan,
advising her that she had the right to file pro se points for reversal. Sloan submitted
arguments on her own behalf, asserting that she deserves another chance to prove that she
can take care of T.H., that she has a steady job, and that she feels that she is capable of caring
Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 511for her daughter. Sloan has attached letters from her current boyfriend’s mother, who states
that Sloan is a good mother and wants to be given a chance to correct her mistakes; from her
boyfriend, who asserts that he wants an opportunity to act as a father for T.H.; and from
other friends and family members who all say that Sloan should get T.H. back. We conclude,
however, that Sloan’s pro se points have provided no ground for reversal, and that Sloan’s
counsel adequately addressed the sufficiency of the evidence in her no-merit brief.
After careful review of the record in accordance with Rule 6-9(i) of the Rules of the
Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, we hold that an appeal of the termination
of Sloan’s parental rights lacks merit and that the termination of her parental rights should be
affirmed. We therefore grant counsel’s motion to be relieved.
Affirmed; motion to be relieved as counsel granted.
GLADWIN , C.J., and GLOVER , J., agree.
Deborah R. Sallings, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.
No response.
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