Can municipal courts refuse to appoint lawyers in civil cases?

Please don't try to answer this if you don't know. I'm asking for a friend and he's very concerned about it. He's been charged with violating a city ordinance and the municipal court judge told him that the court is not required to appoint attorneys to people who can't afford them in civil cases. Is that legal? Constitutional? Doesn't it deny him due process? Thanks for any thoughtful answers.Can municipal courts refuse to appoint lawyers in civil cases?
There is no right to counsel in a civil case. Whether your friend's case is properly classified as a civil case is another question. In general, if one faces a possibility of a jail sentence, one is entitled to counsel unless the court commits to the lack of a jail sentence before the proceedings. There are many local ordinances that have only a fine as a possible sentence. In those cases, the federal constitution does not require appointed counsel. I don't know of any state constitution that requires counsel where jail is not a possibility.


Minor criminal cases, such as infractions, are not ordinarily called ';civil'; cases, but I suppose that could be customary in some towns.Can municipal courts refuse to appoint lawyers in civil cases?
You are not entitled to court appointed attorney in civil cases. Only in criminal cases if you cannot afford one.
The court is only required to appoint lawyers for criminal (felony) offenses.
depends what state