In re Mandy M.

Syllabus

The respondent biological father appealed from a decree terminating his parental rights to his daughter. He maintained that the decree should be vacated because he was denied the effective assistance of counsel and the trial justice erred in finding that there was sufficient evidence to support a finding of parental unfitness. The Supreme Court determined that respondent was not denied effective assistance of counsel because respondent was adequately advised of the consequences of proceeding pro se on the eve of trial. Additionally, the Supreme Court held that the trial justice did not err in finding parental unfitness. Accordingly, the Supreme Court affirmed the decree of the Family Court.