Henkel v. Bradshaw

The question is whether or not the petitioner is entitled to have legal counsel furnished by the state to represent him in a proceeding in which petitioner has been ordered to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for failure to make court-ordered support payments for his child.

The petitioner appeared before the respondent circuit judge in response to a bench warrant for arrest and an order requiring him to appear to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. Petitioner moved the court to determine his financial status and, if he were found to be indigent, to appoint counsel…