J.b. v. Florida Department of Children and Families, Respondent

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court held that indigent parents have a constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel in termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings, rejected the application of the criminal Strickland standard, created a temporary procedure for raising ineffective‑assistance claims, and affirmed the lower court’s termination of J.B.'s parental rights because she failed to demonstrate prejudice. Justice PARIENTE, concurring, warned that the new procedure could delay permanency for the child.