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.
Wyo. Supreme Court upholds parents' right to counsel
07/30/2018
The Supreme Court of Wyoming held parents are entitled to appointed counsel in abuse/neglect cases even when not the subject of allegations.
Florida court: adoption agencies can't challenge parents' right to counsel
07/30/2018
A Florida Court of Appeals held that an adoption agency could not challenge the appointment of counsel for a parent in an adoption case.
Fed legislation would require immigration counsel for children, vulnerable adults
07/25/2018
A federal bill would require counsel for unaccompanied minors and vulnerable adults in immigration proceedings.
Concord CA eviction report calls for right to counsel
07/24/2018
A report out of Concord, California finding numerous problems with the housing market recommends a right to counsel as a policy solution.
California report flags eviction numbers/speed, calls for right to counsel
07/24/2018
A new report from Tenants Together cites sky-high statewide eviction numbers and calls for a right to counsel.
Right to counsel the focus of July 17 public breakfast event
07/17/2018
On July 17 in NYC, the NCCRC hosted a public breakfast event to educate about the latest happenings in the civil right to counsel movement.
Discretionary appointment of counsel - standby guardianships
06/28/2018
A court may appoint counsel for a child when petition by a standby guardian to assume custody is filed.
Right to counsel
06/27/2018
Children in abuse/neglect cases are entitled to a GAL who is an attorney.
Right to counsel - voluntary extension of foster care
06/22/2018
A 2018 law permits a court to appoint counsel for a child who voluntarily agrees to extend foster care.
Report makes case for universal representation for immigrants
06/20/2018
A report from New Jersey Policy Perspective shows that immigrants fare better and the state saves money when counsel is provided.
Right to counsel - student making terroristic threat
06/02/2018
A bill passed in 2018 requires the appointment of counsel for a student subjected to mental health evaluation after making a terroristic threat.
New Georgia law protects parents' right to counsel
05/08/2018
Waiver of a parent's right to counsel in child welfare cases now has to be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, thanks to new legislation.
PA court: fees/fines defendants have right to appointed counsel
04/30/2018
The Pennsylvania Superior Court held defendants have a right to appointed counsel prior to being incarcerated for failure to pay fees/fines.
MA moves to guarantee counsel for all fees/fines incarceration
04/13/2018
A bill passed in 2018 guarantees counsel for all those subject to incarceration for failure to pay any money owed.
Right to counsel - reinstatement of parental rights
04/10/2018
The court must appoint counsel for an indigent child in foster care where a petition to reinstate parental rights is filed.
Wisconsin takes step towards right to counsel for parents
04/04/2018
A new 2018 law creates pilot programs that provide a right to counsel for parents in CHIPS cases in 5 counties.
Fed court: NJ township violated defendant's right to counsel in fees/fines case
04/02/2018
A federal court held that a NJ township violated defendants' right to counsel in its handling of fees/fines cases.
Texas court: when parents square off in private termination case, kids must have counsel
03/23/2018
A statute requires counsel for a child in a termination case unless their interests are adequately represented by another party.
NY appellate ct: trial court erred in imputing income for appointed counsel decision
03/23/2018
An appellate court in New York held that trial courts cannot impute income in determining whether a person is entitled to appointed counsel.
Utah becomes 27th state to guarantee counsel for parents in private termination cases
03/20/2018
A statute amended in 2018 and 2021 requires counsel for a parent in a juvenile court private termination of parental rights case.
New national reports call for right to counsel in housing cases
03/20/2018
New reports by the Center for Social Innovation and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty support a right to counsel in evictions.
Wisconsin pilot finds DV rep improves outcomes, saves money
03/01/2018
A Wisconsin pilot project found that providing representation to victims of domestic violence improved personal/family safety and saved money.
ACLU report decries private debt collection, calls for right to counsel
02/21/2018
A new report by the ACLU looks at the collection of private debt and the need for counsel to protect debtors from incarceration.
Pennsylvania adds right to counsel for sex offender registration proceedings
02/21/2018
A bill passed in 2018 guarantees counsel for proceedings to determine the need for sexually violent predator registration.
ABA adopts NCCRC-authored resolution on right to counsel
02/05/2018
A new ABA resolution, authored by the NCCRC, calls for a right to counsel whenever physical liberty is at stake.
Legislation: body attachments
02/05/2018
A proposed bill would guarantee counsel when a body attachment to detain a tenant for failing to pay a money judgment to a landlord.
King County WA creates right to counsel for certain crime victim families
02/01/2018
A King County WA ordinance enacted in 2018 provides a right to counsel for families of police violence victims at inquest proceedings.
Florida constitutional amendment would have guaranteed counsel for dependent children
01/20/2018
A proposed constitutional amendment would have guaranteed counsel for all Florida dependent children, but it did not make it out of committee.
Supreme Court of Ohio strengthens parental right to counsel
01/04/2018
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.
Vermont bill would establish right to counsel for immigration matters
01/03/2018
A bill would require the appointment of counsel for immigrants in various kinds of immigration proceedings.