—Appointment of Counsel

In petitions arising from criminal matters, extra- dition proceedings or delinquency matters, if the petitioner has requested counsel, the judicial author- ity shall refer the matter to the public defender for an investigation of indigence. If, after such inves- tigation, the judicial authority determines that the petitioner is eligible for public defender services, the judicial authority shall appoint counsel in accor- dance with the provisions of General Statutes § 51-296. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 529E.)