Washington v. Washington

• Citation: 308 S.C. 549,419 S.E.2d 779
• Decision Date: 08 April 1992
• Docket Number: No. 23683,23683
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Parties: Otis WASHINGTON, Appellant, v. Lillian G. WASHINGTON, Respondent. . Heard

Page 779

419 S.E.2d 779

308 S.C. 549

Otis WASHINGTON, Appellant, v. Lillian G. WASHINGTON, Respondent.

No. 23683.

Supreme Court of South Carolina.

Heard April 8, 1992.

Decided July 13, 1992.

J. Mitchell Lanier and D. Mark Stokes, Moncks Corner, for appellant.

Sandra K. Ray, Lexington, for respondent.

MOORE, Justice:

This is an appeal from an order of the family court granting a decree of separate maintenance, equitable distribution, rehabilitative alimony and child support. The issue is whether the family court erred in allowing Husband to proceed pro se. We affirm.

FACTS

This action was initiated by appellant (Husband), who sought an order declaring that he and respondent (Wife) were living separate and apart, and granting equitable distribution of the marital property. Wife counterclaimed, seeking alimony and child support in addition to a separation decree and equitable distribution. Husband appeared pro se at the final hearing and told the court that he did not have counsel because he was dropping his action against Wife. The trial judge proceeded with Wife's counterclaim. Wife was represented by counsel.

The judge ordered that the parties be allowed to live separate and apart, and awarded Wife $30,000 in equitable distribution, $265 per month child support, and $200 per month rehabilitative alimony for twelve months. Husband does not contest the alimony or child support awards.

ISSUE

Did the family court err in allowing Husband to proceed pro se?

DISCUSSION

There is a statutory right to proceed pro se in South Carolina. S.C.Code Ann. § 40-5-80 (1986). ¹ Appellant argues the trial court must obtain a knowing and voluntary waiver of counsel from every litigant who wishes to exercise his right to represent himself. We disagree.

A right to counsel under the federal constitution arises under the sixth amendment or under the due process guarantee of the fourteenth amendment. Ferguson v. Gathright, 485 F.2d 504 (4th Cir.1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 933, 94 S.Ct. 1447, 39 L.Ed.2d 491 (1974). Because Husband has not been charged with a crime, the sixth amendment is not implicated. We must therefore determine whether due process demands a right to counsel in a civil proceeding affecting the marital relationship.

A due process right to counsel generally involves the deprivation of a liberty interest. Lassiter v. Department of Social Services of Durham County, 452 U.S. 18, 101 S.Ct. 2153, 68 L.Ed.2d 640, reh'g denied, 453 U.S. 927, 102 S.Ct. 889, 69 L.Ed.2d 1023 (1981). Nevertheless, certain domestic proceedings--notably termination of parental rights--may, in some situations, involve a deprivation sufficient to generate a due process right to counsel. Id.; South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Vanderhorst, 287 S.C. 554, 340 S.E.2d 149 (1986). A separation proceeding, where one or both of the parties has invoked the State's assistance in determining marital equities, simply does not involve a deprivation that mandates a due process right to an attorney. Further, we find in this situation that the state constitution affords no greater right to counsel than does the fourteenth amendment.

We find no constitutional or statutory right to counsel in a proceeding such as this. Where a civil litigant has no right to counsel, we hold the trial court is under no duty to determine whether a decision to proceed pro se is knowingly and voluntarily made.

Appellant also contends that the family court erred by: (1) awarding Wife an amount that corresponds to the monetary amount she contributed at the outset of the marriage; (2) failing to specifically address each of the statutory equitable distribution factors of S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-472 (Supp.1991); and (3) not making a finding as to the...