Right to counsel - Indigent animal owners
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).
05/21/2024,
Legislation, Other subject area
South Carolina enacted HB 3682, providing indigent animal owners with the right to counsel in civil actions against the owner for compensation for animal care costs in situations where the animals were seized due to the owner's alleged violation of laws against animal cruelty or animal fighting and baiting. See S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-145(C)(1)(b).
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
