Lassiter v. Department of Social Services
United States Supreme Court
452 U.S. 18 (1981)
Relevant factsFree
Lassiter (plaintiff), imprisoned for second-degree murder, had her parental rights terminated after a hearing at which she was not appointed counsel despite her indigency; the evidence showed she and her mother were both unable to care for the child, and no complex evidentiary or legal issues arose. North Carolina's courts affirmed the termination without appointed counsel, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.
IssueFree
Whether an indigent parent must be assigned counsel in a hearing which may deprive the parent of her parental rights.