Clients are granted permanent legal guardianship of their granddaughter

Client(s) Lenorra and John D.

Jennifer Shumaker and Maura Rezendes of Jones Day Washington, represented the maternal grandparents of Chyna L, who was removed from her parents' care by Child and Family Services of the District of Columbia when she was only 4 years old. The grandparents sought to obtain permanent guardianship of Chyna so that they could provide a safe and stable home for Chyna. After some amount of negotiation, Chyna's biological father agreed to provide his consent to the guardianship motion. Chyna's mother, however, refused to consent. On Monday August 31st, Jennifer and Maura presented the Superior Court of the District of Columbia with witnesses and documentary evidence in support of the motion for permanent guardianship. After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Judge Noel T. Johnson granted the motion and named Chyna's maternal grandparents her permanent legal guardians.