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IN RE SAMANTHA S.* (SC 18628)
Rogers, C. J., and Palmer, Zarella, McLachlan and Eveleigh, Js. Argued February 8--officially released April 19, 2011

David B. Rozwaski, for the appellant (respondent father). Tammy Nguyen-O'Dowd, assistant attorney general, with whom, on the brief, were Richard Blumenthal, former attorney general, and Susan T. Pearlman, assistant attorney general, for the appellee (petitioner).

Opinion

PER CURIAM. On February 27, 2007, the petitioner, the commissioner of children and families, filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of the respondent father1 as to his minor child, Samantha S. Before the termination trial commenced, the respondent filed with the department of children and families (department), a petition for a ruling declaring that the department was obligated statutorily to seek adoptive parents who would be receptive to an open adoption agreement, which would allow him to have continued contact with his child. After the trial began, the respondent entered into a stipulated agreement in which he agreed to consent to the termination of his parental rights, and the petitioner agreed to allow the respondent and his mother limited contact with the child during the time the petitioner remained the child's statutory parent. On May 14, 2008, the trial court, after canvassing the respondent to ensure that his consent was valid and finding by clear and convincing evidence that termination was in the child's best interest, terminated the respondent's parental rights and appointed the petitioner as the child's statutory parent. Thereafter, the respondent learned that the department had agreed to consider his petition for a declaratory ruling regarding the department's purported duty to promote open adoptions. On May 20, 2008, the respondent filed a motion to open the termination judgment pursuant to General Statutes

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Connecticut Law