Who is entitled to a court appointed attorney?
If you are involved in a court action other than a small claims case, you have the right to an attorney. In some court actions, the court may appoint a lawyer to represent an individual at no cost. In criminal cases, a defendant who is unable to afford an attorney has the right to court appointed counsel if: 1) the offense charged is punishable by more than 92 days in jail; or 2) the offense charged requires on conviction a minimum term in jail; or 3) the court determines that it might sentence the defendant to jail. The court will appoint a lawyer in all cases involving a mentally ill or developmentally disabled person. In all guardianship and conservatorship cases, the court will appoint a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem, is a person appointed to protect the interests of an infant, an incompetent adult, or a missing person who is involved in a court case. The court will appoint a guardian ad litem in cases of juvenile abuse or neglect. The guardian ad litem may be an attorney.
