Right to counsel
While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing
appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a
statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court
decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes
precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is
discretionary).
Legislation, Truancy - Petition Against Child
Va. Code § 22.1-267 provides that truancy is treated as a "child in need of supervision" matter. In turn, Va. Code § 16.1-266(B) provides that counsel must be appointed for all children prior to any detention hearing, while Va. Code § 16.1-266(C) adds that the court must appoint counsel for indigent children subsequent to the detention hearing prior to any adjudicatory or transfer hearing.
If "yes",
the established right to counsel or
discretionary appointment of counsel
is
limited
in some way, including any of: the only authority
is a
lower/intermediate court decision or a city council,
not a high court or state legislature; there
has been
a subsequent case that
has
cast doubt; a statute
is
ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment
is not
for all types of individuals or proceedings
within that category.
categorical
no