{
  "id": 1725040,
  "name": "In re J.H. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Kerrie M., Respondent-Appellant)",
  "name_abbreviation": "People v. Kerrie M.",
  "decision_date": "1997-10-24",
  "docket_number": "No. 1-96-2913",
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    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "In re J.H. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Kerrie M., Respondent-Appellant)."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JUSTICE ZWICK\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nRespondent Kerrie M. was convicted of the first degree murder of an 11-year-old girl to whom she was not related. Based on that conviction, the trial court granted the State\u2019s motion for summary judgment in a proceeding to terminate respondent\u2019s parental rights, finding that she was an unfit parent. Respondent contends on appeal that the trial court erroneously granted the State\u2019s motion for summary judgment because it misinterpreted the Adoption Act (Act) (750 ILCS 50/1 et seq. (West 1994)).\nThe State filed petitions for the appointment of a guardian for respondent\u2019s children. The petition provided in part that respondent had been \"criminally convicted resulting from the death of a child by physical child abuse in violation of [section l(D)(f) of the Act].\u201d The State later filed a motion for a summary judgment finding that respondent was an unfit parent, stating that respondent had been convicted of the first degree murder of an 11-year-old girl and was therefore an \"unfit person\u201d according to section l(D)(f) of the Act. The trial court granted the State\u2019s motion for summary judgment.\nOn appeal, respondent contends that the trial court erroneously granted the State\u2019s motion for summary judgment because it misinterpreted \"any child\u201d in section l(D)(f) to include a child not related to respondent. Summary judgment shall be entered when\n\"the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1005(c) (West 1994).\n\"Summary judgment is a drastic measure, and should only be granted if the movant\u2019s right to judgment is clear and free from doubt.\u201d Genender v. Erlich, 272 Ill. App. 3d 895, 899, 651 N.E.2d 544 (1995). We review the trial court\u2019s decision on summary judgment de novo to determine whether reversal is warranted by a genuine issue of material fact or an erroneous interpretation of law. Zoeller v. Augustine, 271 Ill. App. 3d 370, 374, 648 N.E.2d 939 (1995).\nSection l(D)(f) of the Act provides:\n\" 'Unfit person\u2019 means any person whom the court shall find to be unfit to have a child, without regard to the likelihood that the child will be placed for adoption, the grounds of such unfitness being\n5\u00a1\u00ed i}{\n*** a criminal conviction resulting from the death of any child by physical child abuse ***.\u201d 750 ILCS 50/l(D)(f) (West 1992).\nThe Act is to be liberally construed (In re Donte A., 259 Ill. App. 3d 246, 252, 631 N.E.2d 257 (1994), citing 750 ILCS 50/20 (West 1992)), and the overriding concern of the Act is the best interests of the child (In re Marriage of T.H., 255 Ill. App. 3d 247, 253, 626 N.E.2d 403 (1993); see 750 ILCS 50/20a (West 1994)). \"Where the statutory language is clear, it will be given effect without resort to other aids for construction.\u201d Augustus v. Estate of Somers, 278 Ill. App. 3d 90, 97, 662 N.E.2d 138 (1996). Section l(D)(f) of the Act states that a ground for unfitness includes a criminal conviction resulting from the death of any child by physical child abuse. The Act does not state that the child must be related to the parent alleged to be unfit. Furthermore, the Act provides that \"unless the context otherwise requires,\u201d a \"child\u201d is \"a person under legal age subject to adoption under this Act,\u201d and does not specify that any relationship is required. 750 ILCS 59/ 1(A) (West 1994). Section 1(B) defines \"related child.\u201d 750 ILCS 50/1(B) (West 1994). Section l(D)(f) includes \"any child,\u201d not a \"related child.\u201d 750 ILCS 50/l(D)(f) (West 1994). The language of that section is clear. The trial court did not erroneously interpret the Act when it granted the State\u2019s motion for summary judgment. See Zoeller, 271 Ill. App. 3d at 374.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nTHEIS and QUINN, JJ\u201e concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JUSTICE ZWICK"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Rita A. Fry, Public Defender, of Chicago (Bruce C. Landrum, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.",
      "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Nancy L. Grauer, and Lisa D. Kurtzon, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.",
      "Patrick T. Murphy, Public Guardian, of Chicago (Lee Ann Lowder and Kristin K. Woods, of counsel), for appellees."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "In re J.H. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Kerrie M., Respondent-Appellant).\nFirst District (6th Division)\nNo. 1 \u2014 96\u20142913\nOpinion filed October 24, 1997.\nRita A. Fry, Public Defender, of Chicago (Bruce C. Landrum, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Nancy L. Grauer, and Lisa D. Kurtzon, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.\nPatrick T. Murphy, Public Guardian, of Chicago (Lee Ann Lowder and Kristin K. Woods, of counsel), for appellees."
  },
  "file_name": "1102-01",
  "first_page_order": 1120,
  "last_page_order": 1122
}