Michigan Supreme Court clarifies right to counsel for adults

Mich. CR 3.915(B)(1) was amended by the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2012 to add that the right to counsel extends to any preliminary hearings.  However, the parent must make a request; unlike a prior version of the rule, which required the court to appoint counsel sua sponte whenever a petition for termination was filed.  See Matter of Hall, 469 N.W.2d 56, 57 (Mich. Ct. App. 1991) (discussing former rule).