Major developments

The City of Toledo has enacted legislation to guarantee counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Respondents in CARE proceedings have a right to counsel.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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