"The mother from North Haven sat in the back of Judge Patricia L. Harleston's wood-paneled courtroom at the New Haven County Courthouse and cried quietly. She was unemployed, she owed more than $2,000 in child support and she had no idea how she was going to defend herself. She said she couldn't afford a lawyer, so she was representing herself at the child support hearing. Meanwhile, the lawyer for the father of her children sat across the room.
"I don't know what my rights are," said the mother, who asked that her name not be used because of the sensitive nature of the hearing. "When someone else has an attorney, they know all the ins and outs and I don't."
Same players, same victims, except in 2005 only 50% of litigants were self represented. In 2018, 89% of litigants are self represented. Note the reference to how the majority of self represented litigants are women!
"I don't know what my rights are," said the mother, who asked that her name not be used because of the sensitive nature of the hearing. "When someone else has an attorney, they know all the ins and outs and I don't."
Same players, same victims, except in 2005 only 50% of litigants were self represented. In 2018, 89% of litigants are self represented. Note the reference to how the majority of self represented litigants are women!
