Re:Algorithm Helps New York Decide Who Goes Free Before Trial
by nobody9999 on Sunday September 27, 2020 @03:37AM
(#24604941)
>and offer a reinforced legal counsel (which is available to everyone for free for sure, but I hope nobody kids themselves about how overworked those people are - I could bet everything I have that anyone with a good income would always pick a private lawyer over duty counsel).
Where did you get the idea that everyone gets free legal counsel for civil or criminal actions?
In many, if not most places in the US, in criminal actions, you must prove that you don't have the means to pay a lawyer before one is "appointed by the court." In fact, many places have very low limits on income/assets before providing free counsel.
The requirements surrounding this are a hodgepodge of state and local rules[0].
As for civil actions, most places do not provide legal counsel[1] at all.
Re:Algorithm Helps New York Decide Who Goes Free Before Trial
by Nitrolo on Sunday September 27, 2020 @04:44AM
(#24605184)
I believe they were referring to England, where you do get legal counsel for free (though my understanding is that restrictions to that have been placed in recent years).
Where did you get the idea that everyone gets free legal counsel for civil or criminal actions?
In many, if not most places in the US, in criminal actions, you must prove that you don't have the means to pay a lawyer before one is "appointed by the court." In fact, many places have very low limits on income/assets before providing free counsel.
The requirements surrounding this are a hodgepodge of state and local rules[0].
As for civil actions, most places do not provide legal counsel[1] at all.
[0] https://www.findlaw.com/hirealawyer/do-you-need-a-lawyer/do-...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aid_in_the_United_States...