FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Nov em ber 3, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 78 4 . IN THE INTEREST OF S. H., et al ., ch i ld ren

.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Th i s ap p e a l ch al l en g es a ju v en i l e co u rt o rd er t erm i n at i n g a fat her’ s p aren t al

ri gh t s t o h i s m i n o r ch i l d ren

. Becau s e t h e ju v en i l e co urt fai l ed t o m ak e n e c e s s ary

fi nd i ng s o n t h e r e c o r d t h at t h e fat h er had wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o co u n s el b efo re

p ro ceed in g wi t h t h e t erm i nat i o n h eari n g

, we v acat e t h e t erm i nat i o n o rd er an d rem an d

t h e cas e wi t h d i rect i o n t h at t h e ju v en il e co u rt m ak e t h e n eces s ary fi n di n g s

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

In J u l y 2 0 19

, t h e Fo rs y t h Co u n t y Dep art m en t of Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces

(“ DFCS”) fi l ed a p et i t i o n t o t erm i n at e t h e p aren t al ri g h t s o f th e m ot h er an d fat h er o f

m i n o r ch i l d ren S. H., L. H., an d B. H. At an Au g u st 1

, 2 0 1 9 ju d i ci al rev i ew h eari n g,

t h e m ot h er an d fat h er, wh o were each rep res en t ed b y ap p oi n t ed co u n s el

, i n fo rm ed t h eco u rt t h at t hey wan t ed t o t erm i n at e th e s erv i ces o f t h ei r ap p o i nt ed at t o rn ey s an d h i re

a new at to rn ey t o rep res en t t h em t o get h er. Th e co u rt rel eas ed t h e ap p oi n ted at t o rn ey s

an d ad v is ed bo t h p aren t s t h at i t wo u l d b e t h ei r d u t y to h i re t h ei r own at t o rn ey o r req u al i fy fo r co u rt -ap p oi n t ed co u n s el . Th e co u rt al s o t o l d t h e paren t s t h at an y n ewl y

h i red co u n sel wo ul d h av e t o b e av a i l a b l e fo r t he t erm i nat i on heari ng beg i n n i n g o n

No v em b er 1 2 becau s e t h e co u rt wo u l d n o t co n t i n u e t h at h eari ng fo r n ew co u n s el

.

Two -an d-a-h al f m o n th s l at er, i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 9

, t h e j u v en i l e co urt ap p o i n t ed

n ew c o u n s el to rep res en t t h e m o t h er b ecau s e s h e was in carcerat ed

. Th e co u rt

s u b s eq u en t l y en t ered an o rd er co n t i n ui n g t h e t erm i n at i o n h e a r i n g fro m No v em b er

2 0 1 9 t o J an u ary

2 02 0 i n o rd er t o p ro v i d e t h e m o t h er’ s n ew co un s el t i m e t o p rep are

fo r t h e h eari n g

. T h e co n t i nu an ce o rd er fu rt h er s t at ed t hat it ap p eared t h e fat h er h ad

n o t y et h i red an at t o rn ey or re-ap p l i ed fo r ap p o i n t ed co u n sel

, an d t hat th e co urt wo u ld

n o t fu rt h er co n t i n u e t h e cas e bas ed o n ei th er t h e fat h er’ s fai lu re t o o b tai n co u n s el o r

an y n ew co u n s el ’ s req u es t fo r a co n t i n uan ce. Th e t ri al co u rt s en t t h e c o n t i n u an ce

o rd er t o an em ai l ad d res s fo r t h e fat h er an d h i s las t k no wn p hy s i cal ad d res s, al t h o u g h

t h e fat her l at er cl ai m ed t h at h e h ad n o t recei v ed i t

.

At t h e o u t s et o f th e term i n at i o n h eari n g o n J an u ary 7

, 2 0 2 0

, th e j u d g e s t at ed

t h at th e fat h er was n ot p res en t

. Th e co u rt d el ay ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s

, an d t h e fat h er, wh o

2h ad b een i n s t at e co u rt res o lv i n g a t raffi c t i ck et

, ev en t ual l y ap p eared in t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt wi t h o u t co un s el

. No ev i d en ce was p res en t ed o n t h e t erm i n at i o n p et i t i o n, b u t t h e

m o t h e r

, wi t h t h e as s i s t an ce o f h er ap p o in t ed co u n s el

, ag reed i n op en co u rt to

v o l u n t ari l y s u rren d er h er p aren t al ri g h t s

. T h e ju d g e as k ed t h e p ro s e fat her i f h e al s o

wan ted t o ex ecu t e a v o l u n t ary s u rren d er o f h i s p aren tal ri gh t s

, b u t t h e fat h er refu s ed

t o d o s o

. Th e ju d g e t h en st at ed t h at t h e p art i es s ho u l d ret urn th e nex t m o rn i n g an d t h at

t h e p ro ceed i ng s wo u l d res u m e n o l at er t h an 9 : 1 5 a.m

.

At 9 : 1 5 th e n ex t m o rn i n g

, t h e co u rt an no u nced t h at t h e fat h er h ad no t ap p eared

an d t h at t h e p res en t at i on o f ev i den ce wo u l d pro ceed wi t h o u t h i m

. Co u n s el fo r DFCS

t h en in t ro d u ced n u m ero u s ex h i b i ts an d b eg an p res en t i n g wi t n es s t es t i m o n y

. Du ri n g

t es t i m o n y o f t h e t h i rd wi t n es s

, t h e fat h er arri ved i n t h e co u rt ro om

, ag ai n wi t h o ut

co u ns el

. H e s ai d t h at h e was l at e b ecau s e h e di d n o t h av e a ri d e an d

, u p on i n q u i ry by

t h e co u rt

, h e ag ai n refu s ed t o v ol u n t ari l y s u rren der h i s p aren t al ri g ht s

. T he co u rt t h en

d i rect ed co u n s el fo r DFCS to co n t i n u e wi t h t h e pres en t at i o n o f ev i den ce. DFCS l at er

cal l ed t h e fat h er as it s fi n al wi t n es s

, an d h e was cro s s -ex am i n ed b y co u n s el fo r DFCS

an d b y ad v ocat e at t o rn ey s fo r t h e ch i l d ren

. W h en o n e o f t h e at t orn ey s as ked wh y h e

d i d n o t hav e an at t o r n e y, h e s a i d t h at h e d i d n ot h av e t h e m o n ey t o h i re o n e. Aft er

DFCS h ad res ted , t h e fat h er t o l d t h e co u rt t h at h e h ad n o ev i den ce.

3A m o nt h aft er t h e h eari n g

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered i t s ord er t erm i n at i n g t h e

fat h er’ s p aren t al ri g h ts

. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt s u b s eq u en t l y ap p o i n ted ap p el l at e co u n s el

t o rep res en t t h e fat h er. Th e fat h e r ’s a p p e l l at e co u ns el fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r new t ri al

,

wh i ch was d en i ed . Co u n s el fo r t h e fat h er t hen fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary

ap p eal , wh i ch we g ran t ed , an d t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

2

. W a i ver o f r i g h t t o co u n s el

.

Th e fat h er co n t en ds t h a t t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n t erm i n at i n g h i s p aren t al

ri gh t s w i t h o ut d et erm i n i n g o n t h e reco rd w h et h er o r n o t h e was i nd i gen t an d wh et h er

h e h ad wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o co un s el . W e ag ree.

As st at ed b y o ur Su p rem e Co u rt

, t h ere can s carcel y b e i m ag i n ed

a m o re fu n d am en t al an d fi ercel y g uard ed ri g h t t han t he ri g ht of a n at u ral

p aren t t o it s o ffs p ri n g. W res t i n g a ch i l d away fro m t h e care an d cu s t o d y

o f i t s p aren t s i s o f s eri o u s co n s eq u en ce an d is s o d ras t i c t h at i t s h o u l d be

at t en d ed o nl y by th e m o s t s t ri n g en t p ro ced u ral s afeg u ard s

. In o rd er t o

d efen d t h i s s t ri n g en t l y p ro t ect ed ri gh t

, Geo rg ia l aw p ro vi d es th at th e

co u rt s h al l ap p o i nt an at t o rn ey fo r an y i n di g en t p aren t wh o d es i res

co u n s e l i n an y p ro ceed i n g i nv o l v i n g t h e t erm i n at io n o f h i s o r h er

p aren t al ri g ht s

. An d t o wai v e a ri g h t as fu n d am en t al as effect i v e co u ns el

,

t h e t ri al co u rt m

u s t, o n t h e reco rd

, det erm in e t h at t h e wai v er i s k n o wi n g

, i n t el l i g en t an d v o l u n tary

.

In r e J. M. B.

, 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. 78 6

, 7 8 9 (6 7 6 SE2 d 9) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t a t i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n,

an d fo o t n o t e om i t t ed ). See OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 62 (a) (p aren t

, as a p art y t o t erm i n at i o n

4o f p aren t al ri g h t s pro ceed i n g s, “ s h al l h av e t h e ri g h t to an at to rn ey at al l s t ag es o f t h e

p ro ceed in g s ”).

In t h i s cas e, t he ju ven i l e co u rt fai l ed to m ak e t h e req u i red d et erm in at i o n o n t h e

reco rd t h at t h e fat h er h a d m ad e a k n o wi n g

, i n t el l i g en t

, an d v o l u n t ary wai ver o f h i s

ri gh t t o co u n s el . In d eed

, i t ap p ears fro m t h e reco rd t h at “ t h e ju v en i le co u rt [d i d n ot

ev en ] fu l l y i n q u i re wh et h er t he [fat h er was ] i n d i gen t an d

, t h erefo re, en t i t l ed t o a

co u rt -ap p o i n t ed at t o rn ey .” In t h e In t er es t of C. H.

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 1 0 -1 1 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 5

SE2 d 6 3 7 ) (2 0 1 7). W h il e t h e ju v en i l e co urt h ad prev i o u s l y t o l d t h e fat h er t h at i t was

h i s res po n s i b i l it y t o ei t h er ret ai n co u n s el o r q u al i fy fo r ap p oi n t ed co u ns el

, t h e reco rd

co n tai n s n o co l l o q u y i n wh i ch t h e fat h er ex p res s l y wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o co u n s el

.

In d eed

, ev en t ho u g h th e fat h er ap p eared fo r t h e term i n at i o n h eari n g w i t ho u t co u n s el

an d i n di cat ed d u ri n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n t h at h e co ul d n ot affo rd t o h i re an at t o rn ey

,

t h e h eari n g t ran s cri pt co nt ai n s

n o co l l o qu y in wh i ch t h e co u rt ad v i sed t h e fat h er o f h i s ri g h t t o co u n s el

[an d t h e fat h er wai v ed t h at ri g ht ]

, n o r d o es it s h o w t hat t h e co u rt

i n q u i red i n t o wh et h e r t h e f a t h er was i n d i g en t or w ai v i n g h i s ri g h t t o

co u n s el

, an d [i t i s u n d i s p u t ed t hat ] t h e fat h er d id n o t recei ve

co u rt -ap p oi n t ed co un s el

. As s u ch

, it ap p ears t h at th e fat h er w as d en ied

h i s ri g h t t o co u n s el [ at ] t h e [t erm i n at i on ] p ro ceed i n g s[.]

5In t h e In t er es t o f J. G.

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 8

, 59 1 (1 ) n. 3 (8 2 9 SE2 d 8 2 8 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Acco rd In t h e In t er es t o f J. B.

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 04

, 7 05 (8 41 S E 2 d 4 2 5) (2 0 2 0 )

(“ Am o n g o t h er d efi ci en ci e s

, t h e reco rd co nt ai n s n o co l lo q u y i n wh i ch t h e m o t h er

wai v ed h er ri g h t t o co u n sel

. As a res u l t

, t h e reco rd co n cl u s i v el y d em o ns t rat es t h at t h e

m o th er was d en i ed h er ri g h t t o co u n s el at t h e h ear i n g s

. ” ) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); In t he In t er es t o f C. H

. , s up ra at 1 1 (1 ) (b ) (p aren t s d en i ed ri g ht t o co u n s el

wh ere, am o n g o t h e r d e f

i ci en ci es

, “ t h e reco rd co n tai n s n o co l lo q u y in wh i ch [t h ey ]

wai v ed t hei r ri g ht t o co u n sel ”).

Fu rt herm o re, ev en i f t h e fat h er was n o t i n d ig en t

, t h e ju v e n i l e co urt fai l ed to

m ak e req u i red fi n d in g s o n th e reco rd t o s u p p o rt a d et erm i n at i o n t h at t h e fat h er h ad

wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o co un s el b y fai l i n g to act wi t h reas o n ab l e d il i gen ce. As we h av e

ex p lai n ed

, s u ch a “ [w] ai v er wi l l n o t be l ig h t l y p res u m ed

, an d a t r i al ju d g e m u s t

i n d u l g e ev ery reas o n ab l e p res u m p t io n ag ai n st wai v er.” In t h e In t er es t o f A. M. A.

, 2 7 0

Ga. Ap p . 7 6 9 , 7 7 6 (3 ) (6 0 7 SE2 d 9 1 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Si n ce a n o n -i n d ig en t [p aren t ’ s ] ri g h t to co u n s el i s p red icat ed u p on [h i s

o r] h er o wn d il i g en ce, a fai l u re on [h is o r] h er p art t o ret ai n co u n s el m ay

c o n s t i t u te a w ai ver o f t h e ri g h t t o co u ns el

. Th u s

, wh en p res en t ed wi t h

a n o n -i n d i g en t [p aren t ] wh o h as ap peared fo r t ri al wi t h o ut r e t ai n ed

co u n s el

, t he t ri al ju d g e h as a d u ty to d el ay t h e p ro ceed i n g s l o n g en o u g h

t o as cert ai n wh et h er t h e [p aren t ] has act ed wi t h reas o n ab l e d i li g en ce i n

6o b t ai n i n g an at to rn ey ’ s s erv i ces an d wh et h er t he ab s en ce o f an at t o rn ey

i s at t ri b ut ab l e t o reas o n s b ey o n d t h e [p aren t ’ s ] co n tro l

.

Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, ev en as s u m i n g fo r t h e s ak e of arg u m en t t h e fat her was n o t i n d i g en t

, t h e

reco rd d o es n o t s h o w th at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt i n q u i red i n t o wh et h er h e h ad act ed wi th

reas on ab l e d i l ig en ce in at t em p t i n g t o ret ai n co un s el or wh et h er t h e ab s en ce o f an

at t o rn ey was d u e t o reas o n s b ey o n d h i s co n t ro l. Ab s en t s u ch i n q u i ry

, “ t h e t ri al co u rt

fai l ed t o ex erci s e i t s affi rm at i v e du t y of d et erm i ni n g o n t h e reco rd w h e t h e r ( t h e

fat h er) ex e r c i s e d reas o n ab l e d il i g en ce i n at t em p ti n g t o ret ai n t ri al co u n s el .” In t h e

In t er es t o f A. M. A.

, s u pra. (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). A cco rd In t he In t er es t

o f C. H.

, s u p ra (ju v en i l e c o u r t f ai l ed t o “ d el ay t h e p ro ceed in gs l o n g en o u g h to

as cert ai n wh et h er th e [p aren ts ] act ed wi t h reas on ab l e d i l i g en ce i n o b t ai n i n g an

at t o rn ey ’ s s erv i ces an d wh et h er t h e ab sen c e o f an at t o rn ey [was ] at t ri b u t ab l e to

reas on s b ey o n d [t hei r] co nt ro l ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Fo r t h e fo reg oi n g reas on s

, t h e ju d gm en t b el o w m u st b e v a c a t e d an d t h e cas e

rem an ded wi t h d i rect i o n t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt d et erm i n e o n t h e reco rd wh et h er t h e

fat h er w a s i n d i g en t an d en t i t l ed t o ap p o i n t ed co u n s el an d i f s o

, wh et h er h e

k n o wi n g l y

, i n tel li g en t ly

, an d v ol u n t ari l y wai v ed h i s ri g h t to c ouns el

. “ If, aft er m ak i n g

7t h es e det erm i n at io n s

, t he [ju v en i l e] co urt fi nd s t h at [t h e fat h er] had a ri gh t t o co u n s el

wh i ch [h e] d id n o t w ai ve, t h e [ju v en i l e] co u rt m u s t [ap p oi n t co u ns el t o rep res en t t h e

f a t h e r an d ] o rd er a n ew h eari n g o n t h e t erm i n at i o n p et i t io n

. ” In t h e In t er es t o f

A

. M. A

. , s u p ra at 7 7 6 -7 7 7 (3 ). Bu t i f t h e ju v en il e co u rt d et erm in es th at t h e fa t h e r

“ ei t h er wai v ed [h i s ] ri g h t t o ap p o i n t ed co u n s el o r had n o su ch ri g h t b ecau s e [h e] was

n o t i n d i g en t [an d fai l ed t o act wi t h reas o n ab l e d i li g en ce i n at t e m p t i ng t o ret ai n

co u ns el ]

, i t m ay reen t er i t s o ri g i n al ju dg m en t .” Id

. at 7 7 7 (3 ). Acco rd In r e J. M. B.

,

s u p ra at 7 9 1 (wh ere reco rd d i d no t s h o w t hat i n d ig en t m o t h er wai v ed ri g ht t o co u n s el

,

t erm i n at i o n o rd er v acat ed an d cas e rem an ded t o ju v en i l e co u rt fo r reh eari n g ).

3

. Ot h er en u mer a t i o n s o

f er r or

.

Becau s e o f o u r h o l d i ng ab o v e, we d o n o t reach t h e fat h er’ s ot h er en u m erat i on s

o f erro r.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed wi t h di r ect i o n

. S

en i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e

Her ber t E. Ph i

p p s co n cu r

s a n d Ri ckma n

, C. J., d i s s en t

s

.

8

# I n t h e C o u

r t o f A p p e a l s o f G e o r g i a

A2 1A0 7 8 4

. IN THE INTEREST OF S. H., et al ., ch i ld ren

(FATHER).

R I C K M AN , Ch i ef J u d g e, d i s sen t i n g

. Th e fat h er’ s ri g h t t o co u n s el in t h i s cas e o ri g i n at es fro m an d i s g o v ern ed b y

OCGA

§ 15 -1 1 -2 6 2 (

j )

. Becau s e h e was g i v en al l o pp o rt un i t i es affo rd ed b y th at s t at u t e, I

res p ect fu l l y

d i s s en t

.

In a term in at io n o f paren tal ri g h t s p ro ceed i ng

, a p aren t “ sh al l b e i n fo rm ed o f hi s o r h er

ri gh t t o an at to rn ey pri or t o t h e ad ju d i cat i o n heari n g an d p ri o r t o an y ot h er heari n g at

wh i c h a p art y co u ld b e su b ject ed t o t h e lo s s o f res i d u al p aren t al ri g h t s.” OCGA §

1 5 -1 1-2 62 (j). In ad d i t i on

, a paren t s h al l b e g i v en an o pp o rt u n i t y t o : ( 1 ) o b t a i n an d

em pl o y an at to rn ey

o f t h e p aren t ’ s o wn ch oi ce; (2 ) o bt ai n a co u rtap p o i n t ed at t o rn ey i f t h e co urt d et erm i n es t h at t h e paren t i s an i nd i g en t p ers o n ; o r (3 )

wai v e t h e ri g h t t o an at t o rn ey . Id

.

Ap p l y i n g t h is s t a t u t o r y ri g h t t o co u n s el h ere, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at du ri n g t h e

fi v e-m o n th p eri o d b et ween th e ti m e t h e fat h er t erm i n at ed t h e serv i ces o f hi s ap p o i n t ed

co u n s el an d t h e t erm i n at i on o f p aren tal ri g h t s heari n g

, t h e co u rt i ns t ru ct ed h i m m o re

t h an o n ce t h at h e need e d to o b t ai n n ew co u ns el o r re-q ual i fy fo r ap p o i n t ed co u n s el

p ri o r t o t h e s ch ed u l ed h eari n g

. Bas ed o n h i s p ri o r ex p eri en ce, t h e fat h er k n ew h o w t o

h i re co u n s el an d was g i v en an o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b t ai n an d em p l o y an at t o rn ey o f h i s

ch o i ce du ri n g t h at ti m e p eri o d

. Th e fat h er al s o k n ew h o w t o seek ap po i n t ed co u n s el

an d was g i ven t h e o p p o rt u ni t y t o o b t ai n an o t h er co u rt -ap p o i n t ed at t o rn ey aft er h e

ch o s e t o t erm i n at e t h e at t o rn ey p rev i o u s l y

ap po i n t ed fo r h i m

.

W i t h res p ect t o wai v er, t h e reco rd d o es n o t s h ow t h at t h e fat h er ex p res s l y wai v ed h i s

ri g h t t o co u n s el

. Bu t t h e p lai n l an g u ag e of OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 6 2 (j) d o es n o t req u i re an

ex p res s wai v er o f co u n s el

, an d we can n o t ad d l an g u ag e to a s t at u t e t o y i el d t he co u rt ’ s

p referred m ean i n g

. See Ci t y o f Al b a n y v. GA HY Imp o r t

s

, LLC

, 3 48 Ga. A p p

. 8 8 5

, 8 9 1

(1 ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 3 85 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Th e reco rd d o es s h o w, as t he ju v en il e co u rt co n cl u d ed in i t s o rd er d en y in g t h e fat h er’ s

m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al , t h at t h e fat h er fai l ed t o ex erci s e d u e d i l ig en ce i n

2at t em

p t i n g t o h i re co un s el an d t h erefo re wai v ed h i s ri g h t to ret ai n ed co un s el

. See In

t h e In t er es t o

f A. B.

, 3 5 0 G a

. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 6 1 (2 ) (8 28 SE2 d 39 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (affi rm i n g

d en i al o f m o t io n fo r co n ti n u an ce t o h i re co u n s el wh ere reco rd co nt ai ned n o ev i d en ce

t h at m o t h er h ad ex erci s ed reas o n ab l e d i l i gen ce t o ob t ai n ret ai n ed co u n s el i n 4 3 -d ay

p eri o d aft er t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fi rs t ad v i s ed h er o f h er ri g h t t o h i re h er o wn at t o rn ey );

In t h e I n t e r e s t o f A. M. A.

, 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 9

, 7 7 6 (3 ) (6 0 7 SE2 d 91 6 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(reco g n i zi n g th at n o n-i n d ig en t p aren t ’ s ri g h t to co u n sel i s p red i cat e d u p o n p aren t ’ s

o wn d i l i g e n c e an d t h at a fai l u re o n p aren t ’ s p art to ret ai n co u n sel m ay co n s t i t u te a

wai v er of t h e ri g ht t o co u n s el ). In ad d i ti o n, ev en i f t h e fat h er was i n d ig en t

, t h e reco rd

s h ows t h at h e c h o se t o t erm i n at e h i s p rev i o us l y -ap p o i n t ed co u n s el

, was ad v i s ed

n u m ero u s t i m es o f h i s ri g h t t o o b t ai n n ew ap p oi n t ed co u n s el p ri or t o t h e t erm i n at i o n

o f paren t al ri gh t s h eari n g

, an d fai l ed t o act o n t h at ad v i ce. Th e fat h er al s o fai l ed t o

ap pear t i m el y o n ei t h er d ay of t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g ; fu rt h er, wh en h e d i d ev en t u al l y

ap pear

, h e m ad e n o req u es t t h at co u n s el b e ap p oi n t ed

, b u t i n st ead as sert ed t h at h e

p l an n ed t o h i re co u n s el . Co m p are In t h e In t er es t

o f J. M. B.

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p . 7 8 6 , 7 9 1

(6 7 6 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (t erm in at i o n o rd er v acat ed wh ere i n d i g en t m o t h er req u es t ed

ap po i n t ed co u n s el d u ri n g h er t erm i n at i o n h eari n g an d n ot i fi ed ju v en i le co u rt t h at s h e

h ad b een u n ab le t o o b t ai n co un s el b ecau se o f h er

3i n carcerat i o n , b u t co u rt refu s ed t o p ro v i d e o n e; cas e d eci d ed u nd er fo rm er OCGA §

1 5 -1 1 -9 8 (b ), w h i ch p ro v i d ed t h at i n a t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h ts p ro ceed i n g

, i f a

p aren t d es i res t o b e rep res en t ed b y co u n s el b u t is i n di gen t

, t h e co u rt s h al l ap p o i n t an

at t o rn ey fo r s uch p aren t ). Un d er t h es e s p eci fi c ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e ju v en il e co u rt d i d

n o t err i n fai li n g t o s t o p t h e t erm i n at i o n heari n g wh en t h e fat h er fi n al ly ap peared an d

ag ai n p ro v i d e h i m wi t h ap p o i nt ed co un s el

. See g en eral l y In t h e In t er es t o f J. I. H.

, 1 9 1

Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 8

, 8 49 (2 ) (3 8 3 SE2 d 3 4 9 ) (1 98 9 ) (u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 1 5-1 1 8 5 (b ),

wh ere m ot h er n ev er req ues t ed t h at co u n s el b e a p p o i n t ed b efo re t h e t erm i n at io n

h eari n g

, ap pl i ed fo r t h e ap p o i nt m en t o f an at t o rn ey

, o r s h o wed p ro o f o f h er i n d i g en cy

,

t h ere was n o erro r i n fai li n g t o ap p oi n t h er co u ns el ).

4