The Michigan Court of Appeals has denied a mother’s request for appointed counsel in her child-custody case.

The Michigan COA has ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal in a child-welfare case because trial counsel filed the appeal, and not the father whose parental rights were terminated.

The Michigan Supreme Court has let stand an appeals court decision holding that a grandmother should not have been appointed full guardian of her grandchildren.

A trial court abused its discretion by not articulating a reason for awarding only a portion of the attorney fees that appointed appellate counsel had requested.

It is well known in Michigan that attorneys who do court-appointed work are usually paid pretty miserably for their time. This is true both in the trial court and on appeal.