In re Wangler

Because child protective proceedings implicate constitutionally protected liberty interests, our Supreme Court promulgated court rules designed to safeguard parents’ due process rights. One rule, MCR 3.971, addresses the procedures that control a court’s assumption of jurisdiction over the child when the respondent makes a plea of admission or no contest. Before a court may exercise jurisdiction based on a parent’s plea, it must satisfy itself that the parent knowingly, understanding^, and voluntarily waived certain rights. MCR 3.971(C)(1). Here, no dialogue between court and parent took…