Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/10pdf/10-10.pdf
Page Number: 8.0

4 

TURNER v. ROGERS 

Opinion of the Court 

The judge added that Turner would not receive good-time
or  work  credits,  but  “[i]f  you’ve  got  a  job,  I’ll  make  you 
eligible for work release.”  Ibid.  When Turner asked why 
he  could  not  receive  good-time  or  work  credits,  the  judge
said, “[b]ecause that’s my ruling.”  Ibid. 

The  court  made  no  express  finding  concerning  Turner’s
ability  to  pay  his  arrearage  (though  Turner’s  wife  had 
voluntarily  submitted  a  copy  of  Turner’s  application  for 
disability benefits, cf. post, at 7, n. 3 (THOMAS, J., dissent-
ing); App. 135a–136a).  Nor did the judge ask any followup 
questions  or  otherwise  address  the  ability-to-pay  issue.
After  the  hearing,  the  judge  filled  out  a  prewritten  form
titled  “Order  for  Contempt  of  Court,”  which  included  the 
statement: 

“Defendant (was) (was not) gainfully employed and/or 
(had) (did not have) the ability to make these support
payments when due.”  Id., at 60a, 61a. 

But  the  judge  left  this statement  as  is  without  indicating
whether Turner was able to make support payments. 

C 
While  serving  his  12-month  sentence,  Turner,  with  the
help  of  pro  bono  counsel,  appealed.    He  claimed  that 
the Federal Constitution entitled him to counsel at his con-
tempt  hearing.  The  South  Carolina  Supreme  Court  de-
cided Turner’s appeal after he had completed his sentence.
And  it  rejected  his  “right  to  counsel”  claim.    The  court 
pointed  out  that  civil  contempt  differs  significantly  from
criminal  contempt.  The  former  does  not  require  all  the
“constitutional safeguards” applicable in criminal proceed-
ings.  387 S. C., at 145, 691 S. E. 2d, at 472.  And the right 
to government-paid counsel, the Supreme Court held, was
one of the “safeguards” not required.  Ibid. 

Turner  sought  certiorari.  In  light  of  differences  among 
state courts (and some federal courts) on the applicability