Rodriguez v. Rosenblatt

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that indigent defendants charged with disorderly person (petty) offenses are not constitutionally entitled to assigned counsel as a matter of right, but municipal courts have broad discretion to appoint counsel when imprisonment or a significant consequence is likely. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the lower court's denial of an injunction in Rodriguez and reversed the conviction of Conley, remanding both cases for further proceedings consistent with this discretionary standard.