Major developments

An appellate court held that parents have a right to counsel in an administrative proceeding to determine abuse/neglect and for an appeal.

The City of Los Angeles is exploring whether to enact an ordinance providing a right to counsel in housing court similar to New York City.

In late 2018, Newark joined NYC and San Francisco in guaranteeing counsel for tenants facing eviction.

A new report finds that being represented by a legal services attorney has a significant impact on eviction rates.

The Philadelphia City Council has been examining how to solve landlord/tenant issues, including considering a right to counsel for tenants.

A comprehensive, multi-year study found that providing multidisciplinary representation for parents in child welfare cases improved outcomes.

Two federal cases sought a right to counsel for all immigrant children in deportation proceedings, but the Ninth Circuit avoided both cases.

the Iowa Minor Guardianship Proceedings Act, enacted in 2019, guarantees counsel for parents and children in child guardianship cases.

A 2019 law change provides a right to counsel for both parents and children in private guardianship proceedings.

A respondent has a right to counsel in a proceeding relating to a protection order due to possession of firearms.

NYC is the first jurisdiction in the country to establish a right to counsel for low-income tenants in eviction cases.

A bill has been introduced that would guarantee counsel for indigent tenants in eviction proceedings.

Detroit convened tenants, city officials, legal services, and national experts to talk about the right to counsel for evictions.

The 2019 World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index ranked the U.S. 99th in the world on access to civil justice.

Bills have been filed to create a statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, and a statewide coalition has been launched to support them.

The Montana Supreme Court found that a parent had not waived his right to counsel in an adoption case, and strengthened the waiver standard.

A report by Legal Aid Society of Columbus found that tenants with representation received favorable outcomes in their cases far more often.

A report on tenant representation Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid found that tenants experienced far better outcomes with counsel.

A NJ trial court has held the state must appoint counsel prior to suspending a person's driver's license for inability to pay child support.

The U.S. Senate's Special Committee on Aging held hearings on state guardianship proceedings, and the right to counsel was discussed.

NCCRC Coordinator John Pollock delivered a keynote speech on right to counsel to an audience of 400 people in Minnesota in November.

A civil rights report critiques Tennessee's civil forfeiture practices for not providing a right to counsel for property owners.

The Vermont Supreme Court re-affirmed the right to counsel in contempt proceedings involving incarceration.

A study found that those who received full representation in divorce cases were significantly more successful in completing their divorces.

A report from Alabama Appleseed urges the state to provide counsel at all postconviction proceedings related to court debt.

The right to counsel extends to cases where the State seeks to collect appointed counsel fees, the NH Supreme Court ruled.

WI advocates have filed two petitions asking the WI Supreme Court to establish civil right to counsel rules and pilot projects.

An appellate court held the failure to advise a parent of the right to counsel in a TPR case, and delayed appointment, required reversal.

A new DV representation pilot follows a recommendation of the legislative Task Force to Improve Access to Counsel in Civil Matters.

A new report by the Seattle Women's Commission has some powerful stats on how much a lawyer makes a difference in eviction cases.