California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Delgado, H040648 (Cal. App. 2015):
The right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment applies to all critical stages of a criminal prosecution. (Iowa v. Tovar (2004) 541 U.S. 77, 80-81; People v. Ebert (1988) 199 Cal.App.3d 40, 44.) " 'The determination whether the hearing is a "critical stage"
Page 6
requiring the provision of counsel depends . . . upon an analysis "whether potential substantial prejudice to defendant's rights inheres in the [particular] confrontation and the ability of counsel to help avoid that prejudice." ' " (People v. Ebert, supra, at p. 44.) "[T]he essence of a 'critical stage' is . . . the adversary nature of the proceeding, combined with the possibility that a defendant will be prejudiced in some significant way by the absence of counsel." (U.S. v. Leonti (9th Cir. 2003) 326 F.3d 1111, 1117.)
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.