In re Carrington H. et al - Concurring In Part and Dissenting In Part

Case Number
M2014-00453-SC-R11-PT

The Court has decided that an indigent parent has the right to assistance of counsel—but not the right to effective assistance of counsel—in a parental termination proceeding. I believe that the vast majority of lawyers provide competent representation as required by our Rules of Professional Conduct. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 8, RPCs 1.1 & 1.3. But in those rare situations where a lawyer makes a mistake or fails to do his or her duty to such an extent that the termination proceeding is not fundamentally fair, I favor providing the parent with an opportunity to seek relief. In my view, providing counsel for an indigent parent but not requiring counsel to render effective representation is an empty gesture.  

Authoring Judge
Chief Justice Sharon G. Lee
Originating Judge
Judge George L. Lovell
Case Name
In re Carrington H. et al - Concurring In Part and Dissenting In Part
Date Filed
Dissent or Concur
No
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