J.L.W. v. Mr. and Mrs. B‪.‬

This is an appeal from an order and judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county, permanently terminating the parental rights of Mrs. R. to her son J.L.W. The primary question is: May the parental rights of Mrs. R. be terminated without a finding that she is an unfit parent? We hold that termination of her parental rights, without a finding of unfitness, constituted a denial of her fundamental rights, protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, sec. 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Other issues on appeal will be discussed later in the opinion.