(a) In any criminal action, in any habeas corpus proceeding arising from a criminal matter, in any extradition proceeding, or in any delinquency matter, the court before which the matter is pending shall, if it determines after investigation by the public defender or his office that a defendant is indigent as defined under this chapter, designate a public defender, assistant public defender or deputy assistant public defender to represent such indigent defendant, unless, in a misdemeanor case, at the time of the application for appointment of counsel, the court decides to dispose of the pending charge without subjecting the defendant to a sentence involving immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation or the court believes that the disposition of the pending case at a later date will not result in a sentence involving immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation and makes a statement to that effect on the record. If it appears to the court at a later date that, if convicted, the sentence of an indigent defendant for whom counsel has not been appointed will involve immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation, counsel shall be appointed prior to trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.
(b) In the case of codefendants, the court may appoint one or more public defenders, assistant public defenders or deputy assistant public defenders to represent such defendants or may appoint counsel from the trial list established under section 51-291.
(c) (1) The division shall provide, pursuant to section 51-296a: (A) Legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent respondents in family relations matters in which the state has been ordered to pay the cost of such legal services and guardians ad litem, provided legal services shall be provided to indigent respondents pursuant to this subparagraph only in paternity proceedings and contempt proceedings; and (B) legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent legal parties in proceedings before the superior court for juvenile matters. To carry out the requirements of this subsection, the office of Chief Public Defender may contract with (i) appropriate not-for-profit legal services agencies, (ii) individual lawyers or law firms for the delivery of legal services to represent children and indigent legal parties in such proceedings, and (iii) mental health professionals as guardians ad litem in family relations matters. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection may include terms encouraging or requiring the use of a multidisciplinary agency model of legal representation.
(2) The division shall establish a system to ensure that attorneys providing legal services pursuant to this subsection are assigned to cases in a manner that will avoid conflicts of interest, as defined by the Rules of Professional Conduct.
(3) The division shall establish training, practice and caseload standards for the representation of children, youths, indigent respondents and indigent legal parties pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. Such standards shall apply to each attorney who represents children, youths, indigent respondents or indigent legal parties pursuant to this subsection and shall be designed to ensure a high quality of legal representation. The training standards for attorneys required by this subdivision shall be designed to ensure proficiency in the procedural and substantive law related to such matters and to establish a minimum level of proficiency in relevant subject areas, including, but not limited to, family violence, child development, behavioral health, educational disabilities and cultural competence.
(d) Prior to the appearance in court in any matter specified in this section by a defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party, a public defender, assistant public defender, deputy assistant public defender or Division of Public Defender Services assigned counsel, upon a determination that the defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party is indigent pursuant to subsection (a) of section 51-297, shall be authorized to represent the defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party until the court appoints counsel for such defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party.
(P.A. 74-317, S. 7, 14; P.A. 75-530, S. 27, 35; P.A. 76-436, S. 579, 681; P.A. 82-362; P.A. 95-261, S. 5; P.A. 11-51, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 75-530 authorized appointment of public defender to represent indigent defendant in delinquency matters in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-436 applied provisions to deputy assistant public defenders, deleted specific reference to juvenile court proceeding and proviso re accused in court of common pleas bound over to superior court all jurisdiction having been transferred to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-362 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision that appointment is not required in misdemeanor case unless it appears that sentence of incarceration or suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation will be imposed; P.A. 95-261 added Subsec. (c) re representation of indigent defendant prior to appearance in court; P.A. 11-51 added new Subsec. (c) re provision of legal services and guardians ad litem in family relations matters and juvenile matters, contracts for legal services, conflicts of interest and training, practice and caseload standards, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add references to a child, youth, respondent or legal party and to Division of Public Defender Services assigned counsel, effective July 1, 2011.
Cited. 223 C. 834; 233 C. 215; 242 C. 689.
Cited. 19 CA 686. Although there is no constitutional right to habeas counsel, section requires that counsel appointed must render effective assistance. 24 CA 723. Statute does not create a right to counsel in filing a petition for certification to the Supreme Court. 54 CA 400. To safeguard habeas petitioner's right to effective assistance of habeas counsel, habeas court, like a criminal trial court, has an affirmative obligation to explore the possibility that habeas counsel has a conflict of interest when that possibility is brought to the attention of the habeas court in a timely manner. 87 CA 126. Petitioner not entitled to court-appointed attorney as petition for new trial does not fall within the scope of any of the proceedings enumerated in statute. 101 CA 213.
Subsec. (a):
Failure of appellate legal counsel to file certification of appeal deprived defendant of effective legal counsel. 257 C. 632. Indigent defendant has right to appointed counsel to determine if there is a sound basis for filing motion to correct an illegal sentence and, if appointed counsel determines there is a basis, to file such a motion. 282 C. 614. Procedures established in 386 U.S. 738 not strictly required in context of motion to correct illegal sentence under 282 C. 614. 322 C. 247. A third habeas petition is an available remedy to challenge the effectiveness of a petitioner's counsel in a second habeas proceeding. 324 C. 548.
A “habeas on a habeas” petition (the use of a habeas petition to raise an ineffective assistance of habeas counsel claim) arises from a criminal matter within the meaning of Subsec.; statutory right to counsel in a habeas petition arising from one's conviction pertains not only to initial habeas petition asserting ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim but also to habeas on a habeas claim of ineffective assistance of habeas counsel, and habeas court improperly failed to appoint counsel to petitioner for his habeas on a habeas petition. 126 CA 684. Trial court violated indigent defendant's statutory right to appointed counsel on a motion to correct when it did not comply with procedures established in 386 U.S. 738 when considering frivolous claims exception. 148 CA 565; judgment reversed, see 322 C. 247. When a self-represented defendant specifically refers to “State v. Casiano” in a motion to correct illegal sentence, such reference is sufficient to constitute an affirmative request for counsel. 203 CA 692.
Petition which arises from conditions of confinement does not “arise from a criminal matter” within the meaning of Subsec. and therefore the petitioner is not entitled to appointed counsel. 49 CS 1.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 887 - Public Defender Services
Section 51-291. - Duties of the Chief Public Defender.
Section 51-292. - Expenses included in commission's budget.
Section 51-294. - Reappointment of public defenders serving on October 1, 1975.
Section 51-295. - Retirement and disability of public defenders. Retirement credit.
Section 51-295b. - Longevity payments for Chief Public Defender and Deputy Chief Public Defender.
Section 51-296b. - Pilot program re representation at parole revocation hearings.
Section 51-299. - Eligibility of minors for public defender services. Powers of investigation.
Section 51-300. - Confidentiality of statement in support cases.