3.0.0 6037 2022-02-08T23:17:37Z 2022-02-08T23:17:37Z House HR 2020-02-28 116 [Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2020)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. SARBANES:H.R. 6037.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I Section VIII[Page H1424]]]> hsju00 Judiciary Committee House Standing Referred to 2020-02-28T14:01:25Z 2020-02-28 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsju00 Judiciary Committee 2020-02-28 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2020-02-28 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress S001168 Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] John Sarbanes D MD P. 3 N N000002 Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] JERROLD NADLER D NY 10 2020-02-28 True J000288 Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] Henry Johnson D GA C. "Hank" 4 2020-02-28 True B001270 Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] Karen Bass D CA 37 2020-02-28 True S001205 Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] Mary Scanlon D PA Gay 5 2020-02-28 True K000379 Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] Joseph Kennedy D MA P. 4 2020-02-28 True Law Civil actions and liability Due process and equal protection Judicial procedure and administration Lawyers and legal services Law 00 2020-02-28 Introduced in House 2020-11-10T15:20:27Z Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020

This bill requires a court to consider specified factors when determining whether to provide counsel for a civil litigant who cannot afford counsel. In addition, the bill authorizes a court to appoint, rather than merely request, counsel for such a litigant.

Under current law, a court may request counsel to represent a civil litigant who cannot afford counsel. The bill instead authorizes the court to appoint counsel upon request by the litigant. A court must inform civil litigants appearing without counsel of their right to make such a request.

In considering whether to grant a civil litigant's request for counsel, a court generally must consider factors such as the complexity of the case, any mental or physical limitations faced by the litigant, and whether any opposing party is represented by counsel. The court may also appoint counsel for limited purposes, including for the purpose of advising the court as to whether a full appointment is warranted.

The bill also eliminates the requirement for a court to dismiss a civil litigant's case if the litigant's allegation of poverty is untrue.

]]> Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020 Display Title Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020 Official Title as Introduced To amend title 28, United States Code, with regard to counsel for persons proceeding in forma pauperis. Introduced in House IH Short Title(s) as Introduced Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act of 2020 Introduced in House IH Introduced in House 2020-02-28T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr6037ih/xml/BILLS-116hr6037ih.xml 2020-02-28 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.