Opinion
No. 137362.
October 30, 2008.
Court of Appeals No. 282765.
Leave to Appeal Granted October 30, 2008.
The parties shall include among the issues to be addressed whether: (1) petitioner presented clear and convincing evidence of statutory grounds for termination of respondent-mother's parental rights; (2) petitioner presented clear and convincing evidence that termination was not contrary to the children's best interests; (3) this Court should address the issues raised by respondent in the Court of Appeals; and (4) the issues raised by respondent in the Court of Appeals were properly decided.
We further order the Clinton Circuit Court, Family Division, utilizing a procedure analogous to that described in Administrative Order No. 2003-3, to determine no later than November 10, 2008, whether respondent-appellee is indigent and, if so, to appoint attorney Vivek S. Sankaran, of the University of Michigan Law School, Child Advocacy Law Clinic, if feasible, to represent respondent in this Court. If respondent is not indigent, she must retain her own counsel.
The Children's Law Section and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan are invited to file briefs amicus curiae. Other persons or groups interested in the determination of the issues presented in this case may move the Court for permission to file briefs amicus curiae.