Right to counsel – Indigent animal owners

05/21/2024 , South Carolina , Legislation , Other subject area

South Carolina enacted HB 3682, providing indigent animal owners with the right to counsel in civil actions against the owner for compensation for animal care costs in situations where the animals were seized due to the owner’s alleged violation of laws against animal cruelty or animal fighting and baiting. See S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-145(C)(1)(b).

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.