IN RE HOWARD MINOR

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STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS In the Matter of TONYA LENN HOWARD, Minor. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED September 22, 1998 Petitioner-Appellee, v No. 206412 Wayne Juvenile Court LC No. 89-278215 PHELICIA ANN KNIPP, Respondent-Appellant, and JERRY HOWARD, Respondent. Before: Hood, P.J., and Griffin and O'Connell, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from a juvenile court order terminating her parental rights to the minor child under MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (g), and (j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (g) and (j). We affirm. The juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in denying respondent-appellant’s request for a continuance. In re Jackson, 199 Mich App 22, 28; 501 NW2d 182 (1993); In re King, 186 Mich App 458, 466; 465 NW2d 1 (1990). Next, respondent-appellant has not established that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel. Decisions concerning which witnesses to call, what evidence to present, and the questioning of witnesses all involve matters of trial strategy. Respondent-appellant has not overcome the presumption of sound trial strategy, nor has she shown that she was deprived of a substantial defense. People v -1­ Bass, 223 Mich App 241, 252-253; 565 NW2d 897 (1997); People v Barclay, 208 Mich App 670, 672; 528 NW2d 842 (1995). Finally, respondent-appellant does not challenge the juvenile court’s determination that the statutory grounds for termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. MCR 5.974(I); In re Miller, 443 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989). Because respondent-appellant failed to show that termination of her parental rights was clearly not in the child’s best interests, 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b); In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich A 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997), the pp juvenile court did not err in terminating her parental rights to the child. Id. Affirmed. /s/ Harold Hood /s/ Richard Allen Griffin /s/ Peter D. O'Connell -2­

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