State Ex Rel. Hamilton v. Snodgrass

HARRIS, Justice.

Does an indigent paternity defendant have a constitutional right to counsel at public expense? The trial court held he does not and we agree.

These proceedings were initiated by the State under the uniform support of dependents law. Iowa Code ch. 262A (1979). The relator alleged defendant was the father of her daughter and should be required to support the child during minority and to reimburse the state for support received under the aid to dependent children program (ADC). By mandate of a federal statute the state must commence paternity proceedings against a putative father…