Question: my boyfriend has to go to court for a dui and since we can't afford an attorney, the judge is making him defend himself and hasn't appointed him a state defender. can he do this? isn't it in your rights that if you can't afford an attorney one will be appointed to you?
Answer: If you boyfriend if found to be indigent, which means he cannot afford his own attorney, the court will appoint him an attorney. He cannot be made to represent himself, unless the court finds him not to be indigent and he does not hire his own attorney. Typically the court will have anyone applying for a court appointed attorney to fill out a financial statement to prove their indigence.
May 06, 2008
Legal Services Corporation