A former solicitor general and a former Supreme Court clerk vigorously sparred before the justices Wednesday over whether indigent persons have a constitutional right to counsel if they face jail for failing to pay child support.
A number of justices appeared resistant to extending the Sixth Amendment right to civil contempt proceedings, which would be a significant step towards the “civil Gideon” sought by the American Bar Association and other organizations. Gideon v. Wainwright was the landmark 1963 decision holding that indigent defendants have a right to counsel in state criminal trials.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
