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70 Drake L. Rev. Discourse 101 (2020)

handle is hein.journals/dralours70 and id is 1 raw text is: TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS: ADVERSARIES NO MORE ABSTRACT The purpose of this Note is to identify structural problems in the way the state of Iowa currently adjudicates parental rights cases and offer substantive changes to ensure every parent has access to the rights and protections afforded by the Iowa and United States Constitutions. Part II describes the definitions and framework individuals currently operate under when an adverse party presents evidence to support the termination of their right to parent their children. Part III identifies and defines the scope of a number of constitutionally deficient structural features of the current parental termination process including a diminished adversarial process; the misapplication of the standard governing ineffective assistance of counsel in termination proceedings; and a failure to recognize the inherent interest a child has in maintaining a relationship with their parents. To remedy these structural defects, Part IV recommends a reversion to a traditionally adversarial process and the adoption of a simpler, clearer effective counsel test, as well as explains the beneficial results these changes would effectuate. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction...........................................................................................101 A. Parents Need an Effective Advocate.............................................102 B. The Ethics of Representation.........................................................103 II. Parental Rights as Essential Rights.....................................................104 A. Parens Patriae and the State's Interest..........................................104 B. The Dangers of Procedure by Presumption..................................106 III. The Right to Counsel and Proving Prejudice ....................................107 A. Guaranteeing a Standard of Professionalism...............................108 B. Challenges Facing Counsel in Parental Rights Cases ..................108 C. Strickland v. Washington: Applying a Problematic Test..............110 D. Strickland and the Appellate Process in Iowa..............................114 IV. A Simpler Path Forward ......................................................................117 A. A Return to an Adversarial Process..............................................117 B. Upholding Iowa's History of Individual Rights............................118 I. INTRODUCTION Termination of parental rights within the state of Iowa is governed by 101