Who is entitled to a court-appointed attorney?
In criminal cases, a defendant who is unable to afford an attorney has the right to court-appointed counsel if the offense charged may be punished by any period of time to be spent in jail or prison. The court will inquire into the Defendant’s assets and income to determine whether he or she is qualified for a court-appointed attorney. If the defendant is convicted, he will be charged for fees of the attorney. The court will generally appoint a lawyer in cases involving a mentally ill or developmentally disabled person. In all guardianship and committee cases, the court will appoint a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to represent the best interest of a person under a disability. The court will appoint a guardian ad litem for a child in cases of abuse or neglect. The guardian ad litem must be an attorney.
