Major developments

Wisconsin parents in some counties have a right to counsel in abuse/neglect cases pursuant to a pilot project.

A bill passed in 2018 requires the appointment of counsel for a student subjected to mental health evaluation after making a terroristic threat.

Waiver of a parent's right to counsel in child welfare cases now has to be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, thanks to new legislation.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court held defendants have a right to appointed counsel prior to being incarcerated for failure to pay fees/fines.

A bill passed in 2018 guarantees counsel for all those subject to incarceration for failure to pay any money owed.

The court must appoint counsel for an indigent child in foster care where a petition to reinstate parental rights is filed.

A new 2018 law creates pilot programs that provide a right to counsel for parents in CHIPS cases in 5 counties.

A federal court held that a NJ township violated defendants' right to counsel in its handling of fees/fines cases.

A statute requires counsel for a child in a termination case unless their interests are adequately represented by another party.

An appellate court in New York held that trial courts cannot impute income in determining whether a person is entitled to appointed counsel.

A statute amended in 2018 requires counsel for a parent in a juvenile court private termination of parental rights case.

New reports by the Center for Social Innovation and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty support a right to counsel in evictions.

A Wisconsin pilot project found that providing representation to victims of domestic violence improved personal/family safety and saved money.

A new report by the ACLU looks at the collection of private debt and the need for counsel to protect debtors from incarceration.

A bill passed in 2018 guarantees counsel for proceedings to determine the need for sexually violent predator registration.

A bill would change the law to make appointment of counsel for indigent parents in private termination of parental rights mandatory.

A new ABA resolution, authored by the NCCRC, calls for a right to counsel whenever physical liberty is at stake.

A proposed bill would guarantee counsel when a body attachment to detain a tenant for failing to pay a money judgment to a landlord.

A King County WA ordinance enacted in 2018 provides a right to counsel for families of police violence victims at inquest proceedings.

A proposed constitutional amendment would have guaranteed counsel for all Florida dependent children, but it did not make it out of committee.

A new decision from the Supreme Court of Ohio creates a stronger standard for waiver of a parent's right to counsel in the termination context.

A bill would require the appointment of counsel for immigrants in various kinds of immigration proceedings.

An updated uniform act improves the right to counsel for adult wards in guardianship proceedings.

A Massachusetts trial court ordered the appointment of an attorney ad litem in a housing eviction case.

This bill would require counsel for an indigent higher education student subject to disciplinary proceeding due to allegation of a crime.

A study found represented immigrants are 12 times more likely to avoid deportation. The study is tied to a project to expand representation.

A Wisconsin case raised the issue of right to counsel when pregnant women are civilly committed for alleged child endangerment.

NCCRC collaborated on a report to a UN Rapporteur urging the recognition of a right to counsel in civil cases as a way of combatting poverty.

A report by several subcommittees of the Delaware Access to Justice Commission urges recognition of a right to counsel for more civil cases.

A survey conducted by Voices for Civil Justice reveals that Americans strongly support a right to counsel in civil cases.