No. 19-644

Melba L. Ford v. United States

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2019-11-19
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: anomalies civil-forfeiture constitutional-rights doj due-process irs judicial-review legal-assistance right-to-counsel standing
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2019-12-13
Question Presented (from Petition)

Does a defendant in an IRS/DoJ civil forfeiture proceeding have a constitutionally protected, due process right to counsel?

Even if there is no constitutional right to counsel for defendants in a civil forfeiture case, when assistance of counsel is sought by unrepresented litigants who cannot afford it, is a court required to provide factual and legal reasons when denying such motion?

When a circuit panel denies motions for assistance of counsel without providing a scintilla of justification, then blocks reconsideration and appeal to the en bans circuit, does the panel violate litigants' rights to due process of law?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does a defendant in an IRS/DoJ civil forfeiture proceeding have a constitutionally protected, due process right to counsel?

Docket Entries

2019-12-16
Petition DENIED.
2019-11-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/13/2019.
2019-11-21
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2019-10-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 19, 2019)

Attorneys

Melba L. Ford
Melba L. Ford — Petitioner
United States
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent