New Idaho law restricts right to public defenders in parental rights termination • Idaho Capital Sun

New Idaho law restricts right to public defenders in parental rights termination • Idaho Capital Sun

Despite a more narrow intent in the Idaho Legislature, two child welfare attorneys worry that broad language in Senate Bill 1181 could have far-reaching effects in legal cases for parental rights termination, which some attorneys call the “civil death penalty.” (Getty Images)A new public defender workload law might inadvertently end the right to legal counsel in Idaho court cases that could result in parents permanently losing their kids. Despit…

New Idaho Law Restricts Right to Public Defenders in Parental Rights Termination

Lawmakers intend the bill to only end the automatic right to counsel in private cases. But child welfare attorneys say it could end right in all cases. BOISE, ID – A new public defender workload law might inadvertently end the right to legal counsel in Idaho court cases that could result in parents permanently losing their kids. Despite a more narrow intent in the Idaho Legislature, two child welfare attorneys worry that broad language in Senate…