Case Title: Choiniere v. Brooks

Citation: 163 Vt 625, 660 A.2d 289

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1995-03-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
CHOINIERE_V_BROOKS.94-653; 163 Vt 625; 660 A.2d 289

[Filed 24-Mar-1995]

                               ENTRY ORDER

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 94-653

                             MARCH TERM, 1995


Camille Choiniere                    }         APPEALED FROM:
                                     }
                                     }
     v.                              }         Franklin Family Court
                                     }
Scott Brooks                         }
                                     }         DOCKET NO. 380-11-93Frdm


                     In the above entitled cause the Clerk will enter:

         On January 11, this Court granted until further order defendant
Scott Brooks' request for a stay on a mittimus issued by the Franklin Family
Court.  The mittimus was issued because defendant failed to pay arrearages on
outstanding child support contrary to the court's civil contempt order. 
Defendant, who was proceeding in forma pauperis, sought court-appointed
assistance of counsel prior to the issuance of the mittimus, but the court
denied this request.  We review this matter, sua sponte, to determine whether
an individual held in civil contempt may be incarcerated without the benefit
of counsel, and conclude that due process requires the appointment of counsel
in these circumstances.  See Randall v. Randall 129 Vt. 432, 435,