Legislative Grant of Authority by Charter; Open Meetings Law; Summary Judgment

Rule 12(b)(1); Rule 12(b)(6); Standing; Declaratory Judgment.

Termination of parental rights; whether the trial court abused its discretion by concluding that terminating respondents' parental rights was in the best interests of the juveniles.

Appeal from an order terminating respondent-mother's parental rights; whether the evidence supports the trial court's findings of fact and whether the findings of fact support the conclusion that respondent-mother's parental rights in the juveniles should be terminated pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(6) (2019).

Termination of parental rights; best interests; abuse of discretion standard of review; parent-child bond not a bar to termination.

Termination of parental rights; no-merit brief.

Termination of parental rights; probability of repetition of neglect under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1); preservation of issues for appeal pursuant to N.C. R. App. P. 10(a)(1); juvenile's opposition to adoption not controlling of trial court's best interests determination under N.C.G.S. 7B-1110(a).

Whether the trial court erred in adjudicating grounds to terminate respondent's parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(7).

Appeal from orders terminating respondent-father and respondent-mother's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1) and (2) (2019); whether the evidence supports the findings of fact and whether the findings support the conclusion that respondents' parental rights in the children should be terminated pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1).

Termination of parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1), (7), (9); No-merit review pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Appeal from orders terminating respondent-mother's parental rights; termination of respondent-mother's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1), (2), (6); neglect; failure to make reasonable progress; dependency.

Termination of parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1) and (2); failure to make substantial progress as indicator of likelihood of future neglect.

Appeal from order terminating parental rights; whether the trial court abused its discretion in not conducting a competency inquiry to determine whether respondent-mother was entitled to appointment of a guardian ad litem; whether poverty and respondent-mother's mental health excused neglect as grounds for termination; whether the trial court erred in failing to consider poverty, respondent-mother's mental health, or dispositional alternatives at the dispositional stage; whether the trial court complied with the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act before terminating parental rights.

Appeal from an order terminating parental rights; whether the trial court abused its discretion by not conducting a second competency inquiry and appointing respondent a guardian ad litem under Rule 17.

Appeal from orders terminating respondent's parental rights; termination of respondent's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1), (6), (7); neglect; dependency; willful abandonment.

Termination of parental rights; no-merit brief.

Termination of parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1)-(2); whether respondent-mother's trial counsel provided ineffective assistance.

Whether the trial court erred in adjudicating grounds to terminate respondent's parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2); whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining termination was in the juvenile's best interests.

Whether the Utilities Commission possessed the authority pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-133(d) to authorize the earning of a return upon deferred operating expenses; whether N.C.G.S. 62-133.13, pertaining to unlawful discharges from coal ash basins to the surface waters of the State, bars recovery of the costs at issue; and whether an increase in the residential Basic Facilities Charge was unsupported by competent, material and substantial evidence pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-94(b)(5) or unreasonably discriminatory.