In re John C.M. v. Meginnes

              NO. 4-07-1030 Filed 5/12/08
IN THE APPELLATE COURT
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
In re: JOHN C.M., Alleged to be a ) Appeal from
Neglected Minor, ) Circuit Court
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ) of McLean County
Petitioner-Appellee, ) No. 07JA23
v. )
ASHLEIGH MEGINNES, ) Honorable
Respondent-Appellant. ) Donald D. Bernardi,
) Judge Presiding
_________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE MYERSCOUGH delivered the opinion of the court:
In February 2007, the State filed a petition for
adjudication of wardship of respondent, Ashleigh Meginnes's son,
John C.M. (born December 14, 2005), alleging he was abused. In
August 2007, the trial court entered an adjudicatory order
finding John to be neglected and placed him in the custody of his
father, Alan Carter. On November 13, 2007, the court entered a
dispositional order finding respondent unfit. The court found
Carter fit, placed John in Carter's custody, and closed the case.
Carter is not a party to this appeal.
Respondent appeals, contending (1) the trial court
lacked jurisdiction to proceed at the dispositional hearing,
which took place more than six months after John was removed from
respondent's home; the court's dispositional order finding her
unfit was against the manifest weight of the evidence; and (3)
the court abused its discretion in finding Carter fit. We