Right to Counsel

A defendant has a right to be represented by an attorney; however, there shall be no right to appointment of counsel in suits for violation of ordinances for which the penalty does not include the possibility of a jail term. Adopted December 7, 2011, effective immediately. Committee Comment (December 7, 2011) This rule reiterates the long held principle that the right to a court appointed counsel does not attach where there is no possibility of being sentenced to a jail term as a penalty for the underlying offense. See City of Urbana v. Andre N.B., 211 Ill. 2d 456 (2004); City of Danville v. Clark, 63 Ill. 2d 408 (1976).