What does the court-appointed attorney do?
A. The SSCRA does not say what the appointed attorney does, but the probable role of the attorney is to protect the interests of the absent member, much as a guardian ad litem protects the interests of a minor or incompetent party. This would include contacting the member to advise that a default is about to be entered and to ask whether that party wants to request a stay of proceedings. No provision of the SSCRA says who pays the appointed attorney. Q. Can I require a bond to be posted before entry of a default judgment? A. Yes. The SSCRA allows the court to require the moving party to file a bond as a condition for the entry of a default judgment, in addition to the other provisions set out above, in order to indemnify the absent service member against loss or damage in case the decree is later overturned. The court can also make such other provisions as are deemed necessary to protect the member’s rights. Q. What are the provisions for reopening a default judgment? A. When a default
