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COURT FAILED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER FATHER WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, CONSENT ORDER REVIEWABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.

The Second Department, reversing a consent order, determined Family Court did not take the necessary steps to ensure father wished to waive his right to counsel in this custody/relocation proceeding. Father had indicated he wished to be represented by legal aid. Legal aid informed the court father did not qualify for their services. Father appeared pro se without any further inquiry by the court:

 

Although the order appealed from recites that it was entered on consent, under the particular facts and circumstances of this case, we are not precluded from reviewing whether the Family Court secured a valid waiver of the father’s right to counsel. The Family Court erred in allowing the father to proceed pro se. When the father expressed a desire to have an attorney appointed, the court should have inquired further into the father’s financial circumstances, including, but not limited to, inquiring about his expenses … . Moreover, the court did not determine whether the father was unequivocally, voluntarily, and intelligently waiving his right to counsel … . Despite the father’s statements at pretrial appearances that he would like to have an attorney appointed, the court presided over the hearing without inquiring into why the father was appearing pro se, or whether he understood the risks and disadvantages of doing so. Matter of Soto v Willis, 2016 NY Slip Op 06505, 2nd Dept 10-5-16

FAMILY LAW (COURT FAILED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER FATHER WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, CONSENT ORDER REVIEWABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE)/ATTORNEYS (FAMILY LAW, CUSTODY, COURT FAILED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER FATHER WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, CONSENT ORDER REVIEWABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE)/APPEALS (FAMILY LAW, CUSTODY, COURT FAILED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER FATHER WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, CONSENT ORDER REVIEWABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE)/APPEALS (FAMILY LAW, CONSENT ORDER, COURT FAILED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER FATHER WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, CONSENT ORDER REVIEWABLE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE)

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