beginning hearing in Connecticut

2014This court has stated that ‘‘[i]t is in the interest of justice to ensure that any parent caught in the throes of a termination proceeding be present, or at least represented by counsel, from the beginning of the hearing.’’ (Emphasis added.) In re Jonathan P., 23 Conn. App. 207, 212 , 579 A.2d 587 (1990); see also In re Lukas K., supra, 120 Conn. App. 475 .7 Accordingly, although the respondent was absent from the first day of the proceedings, her counsel was present and ade- quately protected her from the risk of an erroneous deprivation of her parental rights to her children.

2014This court has stated that ‘‘[i]t is in the interest of justice to ensure that any parent caught in the throes of a termination proceeding be present, or at least represented by counsel, from the beginning of the hearing.’’ (Emphasis added.) In re Jonathan P., 23 Conn. App. 207, 212 , 579 A.2d 587 (1990); see also In re Lukas K., supra, 120 Conn. App. 475 .7 Accordingly, although the respondent was absent from the first day of the proceedings, her counsel was present and ade- quately protected her from the risk of an erroneous deprivation of her parental rights to her children.

1985Dutton v. Evans, 400 U.S. 74, 79 , 91 S. Ct. 210 , 27 L.

1985Dutton v. Evans, 400 U.S. 74, 79 , 91 S. Ct. 210 , 27 L.

2025There can be, however, circum- stances in a termination hearing in which the mere presence, alone, of a respondent’s counsel, is not suffi- cient for a court to proceed in the respondent’s Page 12 CONNECTICUT LAW JOURNAL 0, 0 14 ,0 0 Conn. App. 1 In re Janeleah I. absence.’’ (Citation omitted; emphasis in original; inter- nal quotation marks omitted.) In re Candids E., 111 Conn. App. 210, 217 , 958 A.2d 229 (2008).

2025There can be, however, circum- stances in a termination hearing in which the mere presence, alone, of a respondent’s counsel, is not suffi- cient for a court to proceed in the respondent’s Page 12 CONNECTICUT LAW JOURNAL 0, 0 14 ,0 0 Conn. App. 1 In re Janeleah I. absence.’’ (Citation omitted; emphasis in original; inter- nal quotation marks omitted.) In re Candids E., 111 Conn. App. 210, 217 , 958 A.2d 229 (2008).

2020Given the court’s herculean efforts to untangle and dispose of multiple motions festering over six months on the court docket, we believe it to be immaterial that the court missed this particular motion in its preliminary overview of the pending motions at the beginning of the hearing. 12 We recognize that the defendant, during this stage of the underlying proceedings, was a self-represented party, whereas the plaintiff in Styrcula was represented by an attorney. ‘‘Although we allow [self-represented] liti- gants some latitude, the right of self-representation provides no attendant license not

2020Given the court’s herculean efforts to untangle and dispose of multiple motions festering over six months on the court docket, we believe it to be immaterial that the court missed this particular motion in its preliminary overview of the pending motions at the beginning of the hearing. 12 We recognize that the defendant, during this stage of the underlying proceedings, was a self-represented party, whereas the plaintiff in Styrcula was represented by an attorney. ‘‘Although we allow [self-represented] liti- gants some latitude, the right of self-representation provides no attendant license not

2009As has been recognized since 1803, it is "emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is"; Marbury v. Madison, supra, 5 U.S. at 177 ; and it would be wholly improper for this court to rest on the interpretation of other branches of government when called upon to execute that duty.

2009Although duly enacted statutes enjoy a strong presumption of constitutionality, carrying with them the imprimatur of both the legislative and executive branches; Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health, supra, 289 Conn. at 155 , 957 A.2d 407 ; this presumption is only the beginning of our inquiry, not the end.

2009Although duly enacted statutes enjoy a strong presumption of constitutionality, carrying with them the imprimatur of both the legislative and executive branches; Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health, supra, 289 Conn. at 155 , 957 A.2d 407 ; this presumption is only the beginning of our inquiry, not the end.

1997In re Mark C., 28 Conn. App. 247 (1992).