No. 25-6140

D. B., et al. v. Vermont Department for Children and Families

Lower Court: Vermont
Docketed: 2025-11-17
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedIFP
Tags: child-welfare due-process family-reunification parental-rights reasonable-efforts statutory-interpretation
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2026-01-16
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(15)(B), which mandates that reasonable efforts "shall be made" to reunify families, requires state courts to ensure that child welfare agencies made reasonable efforts toward reunification before terminating parental rights based solely on parents' failure to remedy the conditions that led to removal.

2. Whether the Due Process Clause requires a court-approved case plan providing parents with fair notice of what they must do to avert termination and preserve their fundamental right to parent their children.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(15)(B) mandates state courts to ensure reasonable efforts toward family reunification before terminating parental rights, and whether the Due Process Clause requires a court-approved case plan providing parents fair notice to preserve their parental rights

Docket Entries

2026-01-28
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 13, 2026.
2026-01-26
Motion of Vermont for an extension of time submitted.
2026-01-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 11, 2026 to March 13, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-01-12
Response Requested. (Due February 11, 2026)
2025-12-31
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/16/2026.
2025-12-09
Waiver of Vermont of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-09
Waiver of right of respondent Vermont to respond filed.
2025-11-10
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 17, 2025)

Attorneys

D.B. & N.D.
Kerrie Lynn JohnsonVermont Office of the Defender General, Petitioner
Vermont
Jonathan Todd RoseOffice of the Vermont Attorney General, Respondent