Civil RTC News
This page lists all of the most recent developments on civil right to counsel across the country. These could be newly created rights to counsel, significant publications, public events, advocacy efforts, or other things that don’t fit into a neat category.
NJ court: counsel must be appointed prior to suspending driver’s licenses
A NJ trial court has held the state must appoint counsel prior to suspending a person's driver's license for inability to pay child support.
Vermont Supreme Court affirms right to counsel in contempt proceedings
The Vermont Supreme Court re-affirmed the right to counsel in contempt proceedings involving incarceration.
PA court: fees/fines defendants have right to appointed counsel
The Pennsylvania Superior Court held defendants have a right to appointed counsel prior to being incarcerated for failure to pay fees/fines.
Fed court: NJ township violated defendant’s right to counsel in fees/fines case
A federal court held that a NJ township violated defendants' right to counsel in its handling of fees/fines cases.
Utah becomes 27th state to guarantee counsel for parents in private termination cases
A statute amended in 2018 and 2021 requires counsel for a parent in a juvenile court private termination of parental rights case.
Report: Hennepin County MN tenants w/rep 2x more likely to stay in homes
A report on tenant representation Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid found that tenants experienced far better outcomes with counsel.
U.S. Senate hearings on adult guardianship address right to counsel
The U.S. Senate's Special Committee on Aging held hearings on state guardianship proceedings, and the right to counsel was discussed.
NCCRC Coordinator delivers keynote speech in Minnesota
NCCRC Coordinator John Pollock delivered a keynote speech on right to counsel to an audience of 400 people in Minnesota in November.
Civil Rights Commission: Tennessee forfeiture proceedings should include counsel
A civil rights report critiques Tennessee's civil forfeiture practices for not providing a right to counsel for property owners.
Philadelphia divorce study finds representation makes big difference
A study found that those who received full representation in divorce cases were significantly more successful in completing their divorces.
Another report calls for right to counsel in fees/fines cases
A report from Alabama Appleseed urges the state to provide counsel at all postconviction proceedings related to court debt.
NH Supreme Court extends right to counsel to certain debt collection cases
The right to counsel extends to cases where the State seeks to collect appointed counsel fees, the NH Supreme Court ruled.
