Right to counsel

New Mexico , Legislation , Truancy - Petition Against Child

Per N.M. Stat. § 32A-3B-2(A), truancy in New Mexico is handled as a “family in need of court-order services” matter.  And pursuant to N.M. Stat. § 32A-3B-8(C), children have a right to appointed counsel in such matters regardless of indigence if they are 14 or older; otherwise, they are appointed a guardian ad litem.

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.