Cunningham v. Superior Court of Ventura County

[177 CalApp3d Page 338] Petitioner Judson Cunningham is an attorney. Respondent is the superior court which ordered him to represent an indigent defendant in a paternity action instituted by the County of Ventura. Cunningham refused. The court held him in contempt. Cunningham seeks certiorari of the superior court's order holding him in contempt, and challenges the court's authority to compel him to perform pro bono representation.1 We conclude that to require Cunningham to provide legal services without compensation is to deny him equal protection of the law.