Right to counsel

Washington , Litigation , Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents , Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents

In In re Myricks’ Welfare, the Washington Supreme Court held that due process under the state and federal constitutions requires counsel for all indigent parents in state-initiated termination of parental rights cases. 533 P.2d 841 (Wash. 1975).  The case preceded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lassiter v. Dep’t of Social Services, but has been cited favorably since Lassiter, suggesting its holding is under the Washington State Constitution.

Appointment of Counsel: Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.