Want to go beyond reading about civil right to counsel and actually see/hear the arguments at work?  If so, this page is for you. Below is a collection of advocacy videos, case arguments, debates/panels, public hearings of various types, and powerful speeches.

 

NCCRC Videos


John Pollock discusses the right to counsel movement before and after COVID-19.

The NCCRC's "Fighting Foreclosure" series, featuring interviews with homeowners, judges, and others on the importance of counsel in foreclosure cases


NCCRC Coordinator John Pollock talks about the history of the right to counsel in a session recorded by the ABA Section of Litigation

The NCCRC holds a webinar about jurisdictions using CARES Act funds to further tenant right to counsel efforts.

Case Oral Arguments

 

  • In re SKP (before Washington Court of Appeals on right to counsel for childen in dependency proceedings)
  • Kavadas v. Martinez (before New Jersey trial court on right to counsel prior to automatic suspension of driver's license)
  • Guardianship of VV (before Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 2014 on right to counsel for parents in private child guardianship proceedings)
  • In re G.P. (before Indiana Supreme Court in 2013 on right to counsel for parents in abuse/neglect proceedings) (audio). Read more about G.P.
  • In re T.M. (before Hawaii Supreme Court in 2013 on right to counsel for parents in abuse/neglect proceedings) (audio). Read more about T.M.
  • In re MSR (before Washington State Supreme Court in 2013 on right to counsel for children in termination of parental rights proceedings) (video). Read more about MSR.
  • In re DR/AR (before Washington State Supreme Court in 2011 on right to counsel for children in termination of parental rights proceedings) (video)
  • Turner v. Rogers (before U.S. Supreme Court in 2011 on right to counsel for defendants in civil contempt proceedings for failure to pay child support) (audio)
  • In re I.B. (before Indiana Supreme Court in 2011 on right to counsel for appeal of termination of parental rights (video)
 

 Debates and Panels (audio and/or video) 

 

  • In 2020, the Shriver Center's Racial Justice Institute hosted a webinar about strategies for using data, obtaining funding, working with tenant organizers, and engaging strategic partners to advance a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction.  Check out the webinar materials here.
  • In 2016, there was a Congressional briefing on a child's right to counsel that was hosted by the Children's Advocacy Institute.
  • On March 4, 2015, there was a civil right to counsel forum at NYU featuring former NY Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, as well as panelists from the National Employment Law Project, Legal Services NYC, and Families for Freedom (an immigrant rights group).  Watch a video of the forum.
  • On April 1, 2014, American University's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted a Civil Society Consultation with the U.S. Government, in which advocates made presentations to the government related to several international treaty obligations. 
  • The University of D.C. Law School had a full-day symposium on civil right to counsel in 2013. See the videos from the event.
  • Harvard University Law School spent a day in 2013 discussing the civil right to counsel. 
  • In 2013, the New York State Bar Association marked the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright by hosting a panel on civil right to counsel that was simulcast to 18 area law schools and featured an opening segment by New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. 
  • At the 11th Annual Washington State Access to Justice Conference on "Equal Justice Under Law" in 2006, there was a plenary session called "Crafting a Vision for the Civil Right to Counsel in Washington".
 

 Public Hearings (audio and/or video)

 

 

Speeches and Other Advocacy Pieces (audio and/or video) 

 

  • The Spectrum Institute's new video, Pursuit of Justice, focuses on the need for guardianship reform and touches on problems related to the right to cousnel in such matters.
  • NCCRC Coordinator John Pollock presented on a webinar by the National Consumer Law Center regarding the right to counsel when people face incarceration for failure to pay fees and fines.