Right to counsel

Alabama , Litigation , Incarceration for Fees/Fines (incomplete)

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals extended a case finding a right to counsel in criminal contempt cases to civil contempt. Wright v. Wright, 630 So. 2d 450, 452 (Ala. Civ. App. 1992).  The Court of Appeals based its decision on State ex rel. Payne v. Empire Life Insurance Co., 351 So. 2d 538, 542 (Ala. 1977), which was about criminal contempt.

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.