Dane County Department of Human Services v. Susan P. S.

¶ 1. This is a termination of parental rights (TPR) case. Susan PS. appeals orders of the circuit court terminating her parental rights to four of her children.

¶ 2. Susan was initially represented by appointed counsel, but she later requested and was granted permission to represent herself. Still later, on the second day of a TPR fact-finding hearing held before a jury, the circuit court found that Susan was no longer competent to represent herself, rescinded her self-representation, and directed her standby counsel to step in. Susan argues that her right to self-representation was violated…