Hepfel Ex Rel. Hepfel v. Bashaw

Petitioner, Steven J. Bashaw, seeks a writ of mandamus directing the Houston County District Court to appoint counsel to represent him as an indigent in a civil paternity proceeding commenced pursuant to Minn.St. 257.251, et seq.

On December 5, 1975, a paternity proceeding was commenced by Loma Lee Hep-fel, the respondent herein, to determine the petitioner’s liability for the support of a child born to her on September 17, 1975. Pursuant to Minn.St. 257.254, respondent is represented in the proceeding as an indigent by the Houston County Attorney. As a result, and pursuant to his claim of…