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Permanency-plan review put on short hold after parents’ attendance unclear
Summary
At a Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court permanency-plan review, the court paused proceedings after the father was absent and the mother joined by Zoom but had not yet confirmed participation; counsel was ordered to contact the caseworker and given a few minutes to locate her.
The court opened what it described as the child’s ninth review and permanency-plan hearing and asked participants to identify themselves. "We are on record for what's been documented as our ninth review and permanency plan hearing," an unidentified court official said as the session began.
Department counsel Sasha Thomas and foster care worker Sarah Harvey introduced themselves, and Michael Brooks identified himself as "I represent the father, Richard Shea." The court reported no one present in the courtroom or waiting room and asked remote participants to unmute; a participant identified herself as April Shea and was recorded as the child’s mother.
Counsel for the mother, recorded on the roster as "Tory under Ariel Berger," and another participant said the mother had been contacted previously and sometimes chooses not to participate. Counsel acknowledged they had not yet contacted the caseworker or the facility that morning. The court asked counsel to attempt contact immediately and allowed a few minutes to locate the mother; if contact could not be made the matter would be set for another time.
No formal motions or votes were taken during the period recorded. The proceeding remained at the stage of confirming participant attendance and arranging whether the hearing could go forward or needed to be rescheduled.
