On July 5, 2022, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a published favorable opinion in Winston-Salem partner Carrie Hanger’s pro bono representation of neglected children through the NC Guardian ad Litem (GAL) appellate advocacy program of the NC Administrative Office of the Courts.   

The GAL appellate advocates represent the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in appeals following the termination of parental rights, placement in guardianship, and other juvenile matters.

The appeal arose from the termination of parental rights on the grounds of (1) neglect under N.C.G.S. §  7B-1111(a)(1) and (2) willful failure to leave the children in foster care or placement outside the home for more than 12 months without showing reasonable progress of correcting the conditions that led to removal pursuant to N.C.G.S. §  7B-1111(a)(2). The children had been removed from their mother’s care due to neglect on three separate occasions.  After arguing that she made reasonable progress in correcting the conditions of neglect which led to her children’s removal and the record lacked convincing evidence of a likelihood of future neglect, the court affirmed the original order of the trial court. In the opinion, the Court of Appeals once again clarified that making reasonable progress requires more than making only “some progress” and “some efforts” without real improvement or sustained efforts. 

"While the termination of parental rights is heartbreaking, it allows the children to have the stable childhood they deserve and would otherwise not have,” said Hanger.

Hanger is a seasoned healthcare law, biosciences, and antitrust attorney.  In her healthcare law and biosciences practice, she assists healthcare systems, surgical centers, physician groups, long–term care facilities, hospices, home health providers, and entities engaged in the clinical research across the State of North Carolina and beyond. Her antitrust experience covers a variety of industries with a particular focus on healthcare antitrust matters.  

Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins is an Am Law 100 firm of more than 930 attorneys and government relations professionals with 31 offices in 15 states and Washington, D.C. For more information on the firm, go to www.nelsonmullins.com.