Right to counsel

New Hampshire , Legislation , Civil Commitment

A person has the “absolute and unconditional” right to legal counsel in an involuntary civil commitment proceeding in probate court. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 135-C:22. “If the client or person sought to be admitted is unable to pay for counsel, the court shall appoint either a member of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, or its successor organization, or another attorney who shall be compensated at a rate as determined by the supreme court.” N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 135-C:23. 

Appointment of Counsel: Yes
Qualified: No
? 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.