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.

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All about California's Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel projects

06/30/2020

In 2009, California enacted the Shriver Civil Counsel Act to create right to counsel pilots, and in 2016 they were made permanent projects.

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MA high court avoids RTC question for civil contempt, but issues strong ruling/concurrence

06/26/2020

The Massachusetts high court avoided answering whether there is a right to counsel for civil contempt cases, but issued a strong opinion.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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