In re Desmond F.

Brenda (defendant), Desmond's biological mother, initially opposed the county's (plaintiff) petition to terminate her parental rights and requested a fact-finding hearing after Desmond was placed in foster care and his foster mother sought to adopt him, but later chose to plead no contest to the petition instead; the circuit judge, her own attorney, and the county's attorney all separately and clearly advised her of the severe consequences of that plea before she entered it. After a disposition hearing found termination in Desmond's best interests, Brenda sought to withdraw her no-contest plea and appealed; on remand the circuit court confirmed she had been properly advised of the plea's severe effect but proceeded regardless, and Brenda appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.