Discretionary appointment of attorney as GAL for dependent adults

Iowa , Legislation , Other subject area

Iowa Code § 633B.116(3), relating to investigations of a person appointed as the agent of an adult under a power of attorney,

Upon a petition to the court to review an agent’s conduct relating to pending criminal charges of dependent adult abuse or an investigation of dependent adult abuse related to the principal, the court may suspend the agent’s power of attorney and may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the principal.  The guardian ad litem shall be a practicing attorney.

Appointment of Counsel: Discretionary
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.