Major developments

 

This page lists all of the most recent developments on civil right to counsel across the country. These could be newly created rights to counsel, significant publications, public events, advocacy efforts, or other things that don't fit into a neat category.

View by State

Kansas legislature introduces a bill to reform forfeiture

02/09/2023

A 2023 bill would abolish pre-conviction forfeiture and provide the right to counsel to indigent defendants in criminal forfeiture matters.

See more

All about Louisville's eviction right to counsel

02/03/2023

Louisville is first the Southern city to enact an eviction right to counsel.

See more

White House version of Tenant Bill of Rights includes right to counsel

01/27/2023

The recently-released White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights urges states to give tenants a right to counsel.

See more

All about the children's right to counsel in PA TPR cases

01/14/2023

Children have a right to client-directed counsel in termination of parental rights cases, although the child's GAL can sometimes play this role.

See more

New disability policy framework includes right to counsel

01/14/2023

New guidelines from the Disability Economic Justice Collaborative call for the inclusion of right to counsel as a reasonable accommodation.

See more

Arbitrator may appoint attorney for child

01/10/2023

Arbitrator of family law matter may appoint an attorney, GAL, or other representative for a child.

See more

Arbitrator may appoint attorney for child

01/10/2023

Arbitrator of family law matter may appoint an attorney, GAL, or other representative for a child.

See more

CityHealth ranks cities on tenant right to counsel policies

01/04/2023

CityHealth, which ranks cities on their policies, is making a push in conjunction with the NCCRC for cities to adopt a tenant right to counsel.

See more

Omaha looks to add tenant right to counsel

12/29/2022

Omaha's affordable housing plan includes right to counsel as one of its stated goals.

See more

Alaska expands right to counsel for children

10/17/2022

Provides for mandatory and discretionary appointment of counsel for children 10 years of age or older in CINA cases in certain circumstances.

See more

Conservatees entitled to counsel upon communicating their wish to terminate conservatorship.

09/30/2022

Conservatees have a right to counsel in seeking to terminate a conservatorship.

See more

U.S. hears from advocates on access to justice and CRTC

09/20/2022

Meetings between U.S. representatives and access to justice advocates highlighted many issues, including civil right to counsel.

See more

New NCCRC/CityHealth report highlights eviction right to counsel; webinar in Sept

09/19/2022

A report by the NCCRC, CityHealth, and Enterprise Community Partners covers housing policies advancing health equity, such as right to counsel.

See more

Richmond VA eviction reports reveal power of counsel

09/15/2022

Reports find that Richmond eviction cases are incredibly short and that tenant counsel has a profound effect on outcomes.

See more

California creates CARE Program for mental health

09/14/2022

Respondents in CARE proceedings have a right to counsel.

See more

KY appeals court: denial of counsel for noncustodial parent was reversible error

08/05/2022

The Kentucky Court of Appeals held that the failure to appoint counsel in a dependency proceeding required reversal of the termination order.

See more

Michigan court: effective assistance of counsel needed for civil commitments

07/29/2022

A Michigan Court of Appeals held that respondents in Michigan civil commitment proceedings are entitled to effective assistance of counsel.

See more

Right to counsel but no such proceeding

06/24/2022

Though a minor seeking to bypass the parental consent requirements for an abortion has the right to counsel, abortion is effectively banned.

See more

San Francisco ballot initiative establishes DV right to counsel pilot

06/06/2022

A 2022 ballot initiative, Proposition D, creates a 1-year pilot to provide a right to counsel for San Francisco victims of domestic violence.

See more

Illinois creates immigration right to counsel task force

05/17/2022

An enacted 2022 bill creates a task force to study implementation of an immigration right to counsel, with a report due in 2023.

See more

ACLU/NCCRC report flags eviction's harms, RTC's promise

05/11/2022

A joint report by the ACLU and NCCRC reviews the data on the widepsread consequences of evictions and right to counsel's impact on the problem.

See more

New Orleans joins ranks of cities with tenant right to counsel

05/06/2022

In May 2022, the New Orleans City Council enacted an ordinance to provide a right to counsel for all tenants facing eviction.

See more

PA report urges statewide eviction right to counsel

04/30/2022

A report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center urges the state to fund a right to counsel for tenants statewide.

See more

Discretionary appointment of counsel

04/22/2022

A 2022 law changed appointment of counsel for birth parents in adoption cases from mandatory to discretionary.

See more

Right to counsel

04/21/2022

A minor who files a petition to marry is entitled to counsel.

See more

Colorado adds right to counsel for older children in abuse/neglect cases

04/17/2022

In 2022, Colorado added the right to client-directed counsel for older children in abuse/neglect cases.

See more

Lakewood Ohio considering tenant right to counsel

04/17/2022

An ordinance introduced in Lakewood Ohio aims to make the city the third in Ohio to provide a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction.

See more

Discretionary appointment under "exceptional circumstances"

03/29/2022

The Indiana Supreme Court recently found that, under exceptional circumstances, courts may appoint counsel for individuals whose property is subject to forfeiture.

See more

New York bill would provide statewide right to counsel for tenants

03/10/2022

Building off of NYCs success, a new bill would guarantee counsel for low-income tenants across New York State in a variety of situations.

See more

All about Boulder's eviction right to counsel

03/03/2022

In Nov 2020, voters in Boulder Colorado approved a ballot initiative establishing a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction.

See more