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.
Iowa enacts law separating GAL and attorney roles for children in custody cases
A 2017 law separates the role of guardian ad litem and attorney for children in custody cases.
Arkansas parents entitled to counsel at emergency child welfare hearing
A bill passed in 2017 requires parents to be appointed counsel at an emergency ex parte dependency hearing.
Legislation: civil forfeiture
Several bills would have provided a right to counsel for all or certain forfeiture proceedings.
SC Supreme Court: Right to counsel in sex offender commitment cases
The Supreme Court of South Carolina held there is a constitutional right to appointed counsel in sex offender commitment cases.
Right to counsel
The Alaska Supreme Court has held that indigent parents have a state constitutional right to counsel in certain custody proceedings.
New uniform law expands protections in adult guardianship proceedings
An updated uniform act improves the right to counsel for adult wards in guardianship proceedings.
Legislation: higher education proceedings
This bill would require counsel for an indigent higher education student subject to disciplinary proceeding due to allegation of a crime.
Wisconsin case addresses RTCl for involuntary treatment of pregnant women
A Wisconsin case raised the issue of right to counsel when pregnant women are involuntarily treated for alleged child endangerment.
Wisconsin case addresses right to counsel for confinement of pregnant women
A Wisconsin case raised the issue of right to counsel when pregnant women are civilly committed for alleged child endangerment.
NCCRC gives input to 2017 UN Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty
NCCRC collaborated on a report to a UN Rapporteur urging the recognition of a right to counsel in civil cases as a way of combatting poverty.
Delaware Access to Justice Commission subcommittees call for right to counsel
A report by several subcommittees of the Delaware Access to Justice Commission urges recognition of a right to counsel for more civil cases.
US Commission on Civil Rights calls for counsel in fees/fines cases
The US Commission on Civil Rights released a report regarding the need for counsel prior to incarceration for failure to pay fees/fines.
