2011 Wisconsin Code
Chapter 48. Children's code.
48.23 Right to counsel.

48.23

48.23 Right to counsel.

48.23(1g)

(1g) Definition. In this section, "counsel" means an attorney acting as adversary counsel who shall advance and protect the legal rights of the party represented, and who may not act as guardian ad litem or court-appointed special advocate for any party in the same proceeding.

48.23(1m)

(1m) Right of children to legal representation. Children subject to proceedings under this chapter shall be afforded legal representation as follows:

48.23(1m)(a)

(a) Any child held in a juvenile detention facility shall be represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings, but a child 15 years of age or older may waive counsel if the court is satisfied that the waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made and the court accepts the waiver.

48.23(1m)(b)

(b)

48.23(1m)(b)1.

1. If a child is alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.13, the child may be represented by counsel at the discretion of the court. Except as provided in subd. 2., a child 15 years of age or older may waive counsel if the court is satisfied such waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made and the court accepts the waiver.

48.23(1m)(b)2.

2. If the petition is contested, the court may not place the child outside his or her home unless the child is represented by counsel at the fact-finding hearing and subsequent proceedings. If the petition is not contested, the court may not place the child outside his or her home unless the child is represented by counsel at the hearing at which the placement is made. For a child under 12 years of age, the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem instead of counsel.

48.23(1m)(c)

(c) Any child subject to the jurisdiction of the court under s. 48.14 (5) shall be represented by counsel. No waiver of counsel may be accepted by the court.

48.23(1m)(cm)

(cm) Any minor who is subject to the jurisdiction of the circuit court under s. 48.16 and who is required to appear in court shall be represented by counsel.

48.23(2)

(2) Whenever a child is the subject of a proceeding involving a contested adoption or the involuntary termination of parental rights, any parent under 18 years of age who appears before the court shall be represented by counsel; but no such parent may waive counsel. Except as provided in sub. (2g), a minor parent petitioning for the voluntary termination of parental rights shall be represented by a guardian ad litem. If a proceeding involves a contested adoption or the involuntary termination of parental rights, any parent 18 years old or older who appears before the court shall be represented by counsel; but the parent may waive counsel provided the court is satisfied such waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made.

48.23(2g)

(2g) Right of Indian child's parent or Indian custodian to counsel. Whenever an Indian child is the subject of a proceeding involving the removal of the Indian child from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, placement of the Indian child in an out-of-home care placement, or termination of parental rights to the Indian child, the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian shall have the right to be represented by counsel as provided in subs. (2) and (4).

48.23(2m)

(2m) Right of expectant mother to counsel.

48.23(2m)(a)

(a) When an unborn child is alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.133, the expectant mother of the unborn child, if the expectant mother is a child, shall be represented by counsel and may not waive counsel.

48.23(2m)(b)

(b) If a petition under s. 48.133 is contested, no expectant mother may be placed outside of her home unless the expectant mother is represented by counsel at the fact-finding hearing and subsequent proceedings. If the petition is not contested, the expectant mother may not be placed outside of her home unless the expectant mother is represented by counsel at the hearing at which the placement is made. An adult expectant mother, however, may waive counsel if the court is satisfied that the waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made and the court may place the adult expectant mother outside of her home even though the adult expectant mother was not represented by counsel.

48.23(2m)(c)

(c) For an expectant mother under 12 years of age, the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem instead of counsel.

48.23(3)

(3) Power of the court to appoint counsel. Except in proceedings under s. 48.13, at any time, upon request or on its own motion, the court may appoint counsel for the child or any party, unless the child or the party has or wishes to retain counsel of his or her own choosing. Except as provided in sub. (2g), the court may not appoint counsel for any party other than the child in a proceeding under s. 48.13.

48.23(3m)

(3m) Guardians ad litem or counsel for abused or neglected children. The court shall appoint counsel for any child alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.13 (3), (3m), (10), (10m) and (11), except that if the child is less than 12 years of age the court may appoint a guardian ad litem instead of counsel. The guardian ad litem or counsel for the child may not act as counsel for any other party or any governmental or social agency involved in the proceeding and may not act as court-appointed special advocate for the child in the proceeding.

48.23(4)

(4) Providing counsel. If a child has a right to be represented by counsel or is provided counsel at the discretion of the court under this section and counsel is not knowingly and voluntarily waived, the court shall refer the child to the state public defender and counsel shall be appointed by the state public defender under s. 977.08 without a determination of indigency. If the referral is of a child who has filed a petition under s. 48.375 (7), the state public defender shall appoint counsel within 24 hours after that referral. Any counsel appointed in a petition filed under s. 48.375 (7) shall continue to represent the child in any appeal brought under s. 809.105 unless the child requests substitution of counsel or extenuating circumstances make it impossible for counsel to continue to represent the child. In any situation under sub. (2), (2g), or (2m) in which a parent 18 years of age or over or an adult expectant mother is entitled to representation by counsel; counsel is not knowingly and voluntarily waived; and it appears that the parent or adult expectant mother is unable to afford counsel in full, or the parent or adult expectant mother so indicates; the court shall refer the parent or adult expectant mother to the authority for indigency determinations specified under s. 977.07 (1). In any other situation under this section in which a person has a right to be represented by counsel or is provided counsel at the discretion of the court, competent and independent counsel shall be provided and reimbursed in any manner suitable to the court regardless of the person's ability to pay, except that the court may not order a person who files a petition under s. 813.122 or 813.125 to reimburse counsel for the child who is named as the respondent in that petition.

48.23(5)

(5) Counsel of own choosing. Regardless of any provision of this section, any party is entitled to retain counsel of his or her own choosing at his or her own expense in any proceeding under this chapter.

48.23 - ANNOT.

History: 1977 c. 354, 355, 447, 449; 1979 c. 300, 356; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 383; 1989 a. 31; Sup. Ct. Order, 151 Wis. 2d xxv (1989); 1989 a. 56, 107; 1991 a. 263; 1993 a. 377, 385, 395, 451, 491; 1995 a. 27, 77; 1997 a. 292; 1999 a. 9, 149; 2001 a. 103; 2005 a. 344; 2009 a. 94.

48.23 - ANNOT.

Cross-reference: See s. 48.275 (2), concerning contribution toward legal expenses by parent or guardian.

48.23 - ANNOT.

The court erred by failing to inform the parents of their right to a jury trial and to representation by counsel. In re Termination of Parental Rights to M. A. M. 116 Wis. 2d 432, 342 N.W.2d 410 (1984).

48.23 - ANNOT.

Neither a temporary custody order nor a custodial interrogation were proceedings under sub. (1) (a) [now (1m) (a)]. State v. Woods, 117 Wis. 2d 701, 345 N.W.2d 457 (1984).

48.23 - ANNOT.

When a party to a CHIPS action is represented by both adversary counsel and a GAL, adversary counsel must be allowed to zealously represent the client's expressed wishes, even if the GAL holds an opposing view. In Interest of T.L. 151 Wis. 2d 725, 445 N.W.2d 729 (Ct. App. 1989).

48.23 - ANNOT.

The right to be represented by counsel includes the right to effective counsel. In Interest of M.D.(S), 168 Wis. 2d 996, 485 N.W.2d 52 (1992).

48.23 - ANNOT.

The prohibition in sub. (3) against appointing counsel for a party other than the child is unconstitutional. Joni B. v. State, 202 Wis. 2d 1, 549 N.W.2d 411 (1996), 95-2757.

48.23 - ANNOT.

Sub. (4) does not say in cases other than those under s. 48.375 that appointment of counsel does not continue after an appeal has been filed. Section 809.85 provides otherwise. Juneau County Department of Human Services v. James B. 2000 WI App 86, 234 Wis. 2d 406, 610 N.W.2d 144, 99-1309.

48.23 - ANNOT.

Under Joni B., juvenile courts have discretionary authority to appoint counsel for parents in CHIPS cases. When a parent requests counsel or when circumstances raise a reasonable concern that the parent will not be able to provide meaningful self-representation, the court must exercise that discretion. State v. Tammy L.D. 2000 WI App 200, 238 Wis. 2d 516, 617 N.W.2d 894, 99-1962.

48.23 - ANNOT.

Self-representation competency standards developed in criminal cases apply to parents in termination of parental rights actions. When a defendant seeks self-representation, the circuit court must insure that the defendant 1) has knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived the right to counsel, and 2) is competent to so proceed. The determination of self-representation competency requires an assessment of whether a person is able to provide himself or herself with meaningful self-representation. Dane County DHS v. Susan P. S. 2006 WI App 100, 293 Wis. 2d 279, 715 N.W.2d 692, 05-3155.

48.23 - ANNOT.

This section does not provide a right to counsel only for parents who appear in person. No statutory provision deprives a parent's counsel from presenting evidence and arguing at a termination proceeding when the parent has appeared, but not in person. A mother maintained her statutory right to counsel throughout a termination proceeding after the circuit court found her in default for failing to obey the court's order to personally attend the hearing. It was prejudicial error to dismiss the mother's attorney from the proceedings and to prevent counsel from participating in the proceeding. State v. Shirley E. 2006 WI 129, 298 Wis. 2d 1, 724 N.W.2d 623, 05-2752.