NY S09357

Establishes a fundamental right to legal counsel for all tenants and occupants facing eviction proceedings in New York State housing courts

Requires housing courts to grant an automatic adjournment of at least one month when a respondent appears without an attorney, with no requirement to show good cause

Mandates additional 14-day adjournments for subsequent appearances if the respondent demonstrates attempts to obtain free legal aid that were denied or refused

Prohibits courts from proceeding on the merits, issuing warrants of eviction, or entering default judgments against unrepresented respondents until they either obtain counsel or validly waive their right

Requires any waiver of the right to counsel to be invalid until the respondent has had at least one consultation with an attorney; courts must notify respondents verbally and in writing of their rights and available legal resources