In re Christina M.

276 Conn. 903 | Conn. | 2005

The petition by the respondent mother for certification for appeal from the Appellate Court, 90 Conn. App. 565 (AC 25540), is granted, limited to the following issues:

“1. Whether the Appellate Court properly concluded that the trial court does not have a constitutional obligation to appoint an independent attorney to advocate for the express wishes of a child, who is the subject of a termination of parental rights petition, when those wishes conflict with the position advocated by the child’s present counsel?

The Supreme Court docket number is SC 17512. Decided September 28, 2005 Cheryl A. Juniewic, in support of the petition. Paula D. Sullivan, assistant attorney general, in opposition.

“2. If the answer to the first question is ‘no,’ whether deprivation of that right by an attorney who advocates a position contrary to the express wishes of the child causes ‘structural error’ in a termination proceeding creating a presumption of prejudice?”