Court Opinion

ID: 9580794
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:09:02.931375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:32.181346
License: Public Domain

(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent.
Nothing in the majority opinion or the authorities cited convinces me that the defendant in a paternity action, even where indigent, is entitled to the appointment of counsel at public expense as a matter of procedural due process. The correct view, I believe, is to the contrary. See State v. Walker, 87 Wash.2d 443, 553 P.2d 1093 (1976); Artibee v. Cheboygan Circuit Judge, 54 Mich.App. 433, 221 N.W.2d 225 (Mich.App.1974), rev’d., 397 Mich. 54, 243 N.W.2d 248 (Mich.1976).
Being also of the opinion that petitioner’s other arguments are without merit, I would affirm the action of the superior court.