Right to counsel

New Hampshire , Legislation , Sexually Dangerous Persons - Commitment

For sexually violent predator civil commitments, “The right of a person sought to be committed as a sexually violent predator to legal counsel prior to and during any judicial hearing conducted under this chapter shall be absolute and unconditional. The right to legal counsel for any person sought to be committed during any judicial proceeding conducted under this chapter shall be waived only if the client or person sought to be committed makes an informed decision to do so.  The person sought to be committed shall pay the costs of the legal services in connection with hearings held under this chapter. If the person sought to be committed is unable to pay for counsel, the court shall appoint counsel pursuant to RSA 604-A:2.” N.H. Stat. § 135-E: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.