Right to counsel

Key_development Question_mark

Litigation, Civil Commitment

The Florida Supreme Court has found a due process right to counsel in involuntary commitments.  Pullen v. State, 802 So.2d 1113, 1119 (Fla. 2001) (“While the right to appointed counsel in Baker Act involuntary civil commitment proceedings is provided by Florida statute, the constitutional guarantee of due process would require no less.”)  While the court did not specify which constitution it was relying on, its citation to federal cases would suggest it was a holding under the federal constitution.

Appointment of Counsel: categorical Qualified: no