At its 2006 annual meeting, the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association unanimously adopted the following resolution:  "Resolved, that the American Bar Association urges federal, state, and territorial governments to provide legal counsel as a matter of right at public expense to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody, as determined by each jurisdiction."

Since then, state and local bar associations have acted in support of efforts to achieve recognition of a civil right to counsel. For example:

• New York State Bar President Kate Madigan is featured in a 60-second radio spot focusing on a civil right to counsel. To listen to the spot, click here.
• The Boston Bar Asssociation's Task Force on Civil Right to Counsel released a report in September 2008 with specific proposals on implementing a civil right to counsel in Massachusetts. Read the report here. 
• The Boston Bar Association, joined by the Massachusetts Bar Association, has formed a task force on a civil right to counsel. For more information, see this page.

• The Hawaii Justice Foundation and State Bar released an extensive civil justice needs study in 2007 recommending a civil right to counsel.
• In 2007, the Washington State Bar Association submitted an amicus brief in King v. King, before the Washington Supreme Court, in which a woman seeking custody of her children asserted a right to counsel under the state constitution.
• The Maryland State Bar Association submitted a brief in Frase v. Barnhart, a case in which the state supreme court was considering whether the right to counsel should exist in custody cases.

• The Minnesota State Bar Association has established a civil right to counsel task force. See this site for more information.
• New Hampshire Access to Justice Commission is examining the civil right to counsel issue.