Right to counsel

Key_development Question_mark

Litigation, Civil Commitment

In Johnson v. Nelms, 100 S.W.2d 648, 652 (Tenn. 1937), the court held that for an insanity commitment hearing, "It is the duty of the trial court to see that the rights of the party whose sanity is questioned are fully guarded and protected; that in the absence of counsel, a competent and disinterested member of the bar is appointed to represent him . . . ."

Appointment of Counsel: categorical Qualified: no