Major developments

A New Jersey court found a right to appointed counsel in a hearing on whether a child support obligee should remain in prison for contempt.

A report commissioned by the NYC Bar finds that an immigration right to counsel would pay for itself.

A new report issued by the Civil Legal Justice Coalition to the PA State Senate Judiciary Committee urges PA to pursue a civil right to counsel.

A Florida law enacted in 2024 provides a right to counsel for particularly vulnerable children in dependency proceedings.

A 2014 Florida law provides a right to counsel for particularly vulnerable children in termination proceedings.

The U.N. Human Rights Committee gave recommendations to the U.S. as to the ICCPR treaty, and urged the provision of counsel in some cases.

The Indiana Supreme Court clarified that parents have a statutory right to counsel in abuse/neglect cases, and failure to appoint is error.

The New York City Council's Committee on Immigration held public hearings on different models for providing counsel in immigration cases.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that all parents have a constitutional right to counsel in abuse/neglect proceedings.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that all parents have a constitutional right to counsel in abuse/neglect proceedings.

The “Access to Justice Act”, enacted in 2013, creates a set of statewide pilot projects for the provision of counsel in civil cases.

The 2013 “Access to Justice Act” creates a set of statewide pilot projects (likely to focus on housing) on providing counsel in civil cases.

There is a right to counsel for parents in private adoption proceedings.

The New Jersey Supreme Court declined to review a decision by the NJ Court of Appeals regarding the right to counsel in DV cases.

The AP covered a civil right to counsel event by the TN Bar and Legal Aid of West TN held on Friday, Nov. 22.

The Court of Appeals of Maryland has indirectly reaffirmed that people facing incarceration for civil contempt still have a right to counsel.

The SC Supreme Court held that S.C. Code § 63–7–2560 does not distinguish between public and private termination cases, so it applies to both.

Indiana Court of Appeals said a trial court's appointment of counsel in small claims case was not improper.

NY Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman has said he wants there to be an attorney in every foreclosure case in the state.

A federal district court held that detainees with mental disabilities have the right to assistance in their immigration removal cases.

The PA Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings in 2013 about the civil legal justice gap, and many people testified about a right to counsel.

At hearings convened by NY Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, advocates testified about the justice gap and civil right to counsel.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts found a state due process right to counsel for children in private adoption cases.

The Kansas Supreme Court has said there is a right to counsel in sexually violent predator commitment proceedings.

The 2012 version of the Model Code on Education and Dignity contains significant right to counsel provisions.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts found a state due process right to counsel for indigent parents in private adoption cases.

The San Francisco Council passed an ordinance declaring an intent to become the first "right to civil counsel city".

In 2011, the ABA endorsed the Model Act for Children in Abuse, Neglect and Dependency Proceedings, which covers right to counsel.

A set of housing right to counsel pilots were completed in Massachusetts in 2012 and 2013.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that as a matter of statutory construction, there is a right to counsel in reviews of existing guardianships.