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.
Maryland AG creates access to justice task force, flags right to counsel
06/16/2020
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh announced the creation of an access to justice task force and that right to counsel would be considered.
Iowa pilot will allow early appointment of counsel for parents
06/15/2020
A bill passed in 2020 will allow the public defender to appoint counsel for parents prior to formal dependency proceedings.
Study: COVID-19, housing instability, and right to counsel
06/11/2020
A new study explains how COVID-19, the public health crisis, evictions, and the right to counsel are connected.
The NCCRC's statement on the murder of George Floyd and the protests
06/09/2020
A statement from the NCCRC regarding the murder of George Floyd, the protests, and the connection to housing justice.
Report finds racial disparity in evictions, calls for right to counsel
06/02/2020
A report finds the majority of MA evictions suspended during COVID-19 are in communities of color, and calls for a right to counsel.
Report: Baltimore/MD would save $36 million w/tenant right to counsel
05/18/2020
A report by a financial analysis company concludes Baltimore and Maryland would save a combined $36 million with a right to counsel for tenants.
Civil right to counsel resolution introduced in Congress
05/08/2020
U.S. House Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) and 14 cosponsors introduced a resolution to provide a right to counsel in civil cases.
Michigan report calls for eviction right to counsel
05/08/2020
A Michigan report outlines the state's high eviction filing rate as well as the representational imbalance between tenants and landlords.
Delaware report flags low tenant rep rate, need for counsel
05/01/2020
A University of Delaware report flags the low rate of tenant representation and the small dollars involved in some eviction actions.
Right to Counsel
04/23/2020
There is a right to counsel for a person diagnosed as "affected with a communicable disease" who has been detained and petitions for discharge.
About the right to counsel in quarantine/isolation cases
04/20/2020
The NCCRC status map now includes full information about the right to counsel when subject to quarantine or isolation.
PA appellate court: right to counsel attaches where incarceration is threatened
03/03/2020
A PA appellate court broadly held that the right to counsel attaches when incarceration is threatened in civil matters.
PA Superior Court: right to appointed counsel where there is a likelihood of imprisonment for failure to pay cost
03/03/2020
The PA Superior Court held that counsel must be appointed where there is a likelihood of imprisonment for contempt over failure to pay a cost.
Bill would amend standards for appointing civil counsel in federal court
02/28/2020
New federal legislation would address flaws in the statute governing discretionary appointment of counsel in federal civil cases.
More federal bills would fund cities/states pursuing right to counsel
02/13/2020
Bills filed in the U.S. House and Senate would fund cities/states expanding eviction defense and prioritize those with a right to counsel.
ICWA, right to counsel apply to private guardianships, says Nebraska high court
02/10/2020
The Supreme Court of Nebraska held= the Indian Child Welfare Act and its right to counsel provisions appliy to private guardianship disputes.
DC court extends child's right to counsel
02/06/2020
The D.C. Court of Appeals held delinquent children have a right to counsel in proceedings run by the Dept' of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
Delinquency right to counsel extends to related DYRS matters
02/06/2020
The D.C. Ct. of Appeals held that kids' RTC in delinquency matters applies where the child is in the custody of Dep't of Youth Rehab. Services.
Webinar tackles funding and race issues in eviction right to counsel
01/17/2020
A Shriver Center webinar tackled the question of the race equity implications of an eviction right to counsel, as well as funding questions.
NY bill would guarantee counsel in all immigration removal cases
01/15/2020
A statewide bill in NY would provide a right to counsel for both detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings.
Wall Street Journal profiles growing eviction right to counsel movement
12/26/2019
The Wall Street Journal took a look at how cities are adopting an eviction right to counsel as a way of combating rising rents.
Texas Supreme Court: parent not advised of right to counsel
12/20/2019
The Supreme Court of Texas reversed a termination of parental rights because a parent was not advised of her right to appointed counsel.
MA appellate court: counsel might be needed for evicted children
12/20/2019
The MA Court of Appeals remanded a case to determine whether children in an eviction case needed representation separate from their mother.
U.S. Rep DeLauro introduces housing representation bill
12/04/2019
A bill by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) would expand housing representation and encourage state/local governments to provide a right to counsel.
Financial advisory company focuses on right to counsel
10/13/2019
Stout, a financial analysis company that has produced right to counsel cost/benefit reports, has new articles on the right to counsel movement.
Center for American Progress issue brief supports tenant right to conusel
10/02/2019
A new issue brief from the Center for American Progress explains the importance of providing a right to counsel for tenants.
PA report calls for immigration right to counsel
10/01/2019
A new report out of Pennsylvania finds that few are represented in immigration court and calls for counsel to be provided by the state.
Ocasio-Cortez introduces housing right to counsel bill
09/25/2019
A bill by U.S. House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would fund states establishing or pursuing a right to counsel in eviction cases.
Delaware Lawyer Magazine focuses on access to justice, right to counsel
09/24/2019
The latest issue of Delaware Lawyer Magazine features articles looking at access to justice and the right to counsel in Delaware.
CAP issue brief calls for fed gov't leadership on civil legal aid
09/16/2019
An issue brief by the Center for American Progress relies in part on right to counsel efforts to call for federal leadership on civil justice.