The constitutional right to counsel does not extend to civil cases.

Evidence

Although the U.S. Constitution requires government to provide legal assistance for indigent defendants accused of crimes, it does not guarantee legal assistance in civil cases. From time to time, however, most people do require the services of a lawyer. They may need legal representation to file suit for damages when they have been injured or for divorce when a marriage fails; they may also find themselves defendants in a civil suit, or they may need legal advice for business or personal matters. Yet many people find it difficult to obtain legal services. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 725

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the civil/criminal counsel distinction central to the course’s institutional and constitutional coverage.
• XREF: Connects to the access-to-justice problem discussed in assigned texts and the bounded-rights framework of ch. 5. — connects to: State courts protect rights the federal Constitution does not guarantee — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 3371

Broader Connections

• State courts protect rights the federal Constitution does not guarantee #qualifies (0.78) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 3371