California Court of Appeal June 2, 1983, Civ. 6282 (County of Tulare v. Ybarra)

*582

Opinion

WOOLPERT, J.

In this appeal we hold that the trial court abused its discretion when it dismissed a paternity action brought by the state simply because the alleged father, the defendant, could not afford an attorney and no public funds were available to pay an attorney appointed by the court. Under existing law, the public defender may not be appointed as counsel in such cases.