HR 6037
Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
The Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020 aims to improve access to legal representation for individuals who cannot afford it in civil court cases. Currently, courts only request counsel; this bill empowers them to directly appoint counsel upon a litigant’s request, considering factors like the complexity of the case, the litigant’s abilities, and whether the opposing party has an attorney. It also protects litigants from case dismissal if they incorrectly claim poverty and clarifies the court’s authority to appoint counsel for limited purposes.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
John P. Sarbanes
Cosponsors
Henry C. "Hank," Jr. Johnson
Joseph P., III Kennedy
Karen Bass
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