Final Report to the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court

September 24, 2007 Respondent Parents? Counsel (RPC) provide legal representation to parents in dependency and neglect proceedings. While some of these parents elect to hire a lawyer to represent them, many cannot afford to do so. Colorado law recognizes the critical link between legal representation and the protection of due process rights for parents and families by requiring that indigent parents have a right to a state-paid attorney throughout the entire case. RPC play a critical role in dependency and neglect proceedings by protecting parents? fundamental and constitutional rights, instituting necessary checks on state involvement in families, and providing . . .