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, Custody Disputes - Parents
Indigent parents in custody cases are entitled to representation by the Office of Public Advocacy if the opposing party is represented by counsel provided by a public agency. Alaska Stat. § 44.21.410(a)(4).
The court has said that the Alaska Legal Services Corporation and the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are both "public agencies." Flores v. Flores, 598 P.2d 893 (Alaska 1979); In the Matter of Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, 264 P.3d 835 (Alaska 2011).
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
yes