D. Counsel Appointment

Standards in this section address the following issues:

  1. Scope of right to counsel
  2. Time of appointment
  3. Duration of appointment
  4. Waiver of counsel
Compare standards in Compendium Volume I, "Standards on the Administration of Defense Services," pages B1-B17 and D1-D7.

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1. Scope of Right to Counsel

Commentary. These standards implement the principle that counsel in juvenile proceedings is essential, as set forth above (page B2). See also Compendium Volume I, "Standards on the Administration of Defense Services," pages D2-D6.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Counsel for Private Parties

2.3 Types of proceedings

A. Delinquency…proceedings.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to the Juvenile Probation Function

2.13 Juvenile's right to counsel at intake

A juvenile should have an unwaivable right to the assistance of counsel at intake:

A. in connection with any questioning by intake personnel at an intake interview involving questioning in accordance with Standard 2.14 or other questioning by intake personnel, and

B. in connection with any discussions or negotiations regarding a nonjudicial disposition, including discussions and negotiations in the course of a dispositional conference in accordance with Standard 2.14.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Transfer Between Courts

2.3 The hearing

A. The juvenile should be represented by counsel at the waiver hearing. The clerk of the juvenile court should give written notice to the juvenile, multilingual if appropriate, of this requirement at least [five] court days before commencement of the waiver hearing.

B. The juvenile court should appoint counsel to represent any juvenile unable to afford representation by counsel at the waiver hearing. The clerk of the juvenile court should give written notice to the juvenile, multilingual if appropriate, of this right at least [five] court days before commencement of the waiver hearing.

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2. Time of Appointment

Commentary. See also the relevant standards set forth in Compendium Volume I, "Standards on the Administration of Defense Services," pages B2-B5 and D2-D4.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Counsel for Private Parties

2.4 Stages of proceedings

A. Initial provision of counsel.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Pretrial Proceedings

2.2 Initial appearance

C. At the initial appearance, counsel should be appointed if necessary, and a date should be set for the fact-finding hearing.

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3. Duration of Appointment

Commentary. See comparable provisions in Compendium Volume I, "Administration of Defense Services," page B6.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Counsel for Private Parties

2.4 Stages of proceedings

B. Duration of representation and withdrawal of counsel.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Monitoring

3.1 Monitoring individual cases

B. Counsel should be provided for the entire period during which the juvenile is under the jurisdiction of the court.

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4. Waiver of Counsel

Commentary. Waiver of the right to counsel in juvenile justice proceedings is subject to several complications stemming from the status of the juvenile. See Compendium Volume I, "Standards on the Administration of Defense Services," page D5.

ABA Juvenile Justice Standards Relating to Counsel for Private Parties

6.2 Waiver of the rights of mature respondents

A. A respondent considered by counsel to be mature should be permitted to act through counsel in the proceedings. However, the juvenile may not personally waive any right:

    1. except in the presence of and after consultation with counsel; and

    2. unless a parent has first been afforded a reasonable opportunity to consult with the juvenile and the juvenile's counsel regarding the decision. If the parent requires an interpreter for this purpose, the court should provide one.

B. The decision to waive a mature juvenile's privilege against self-incrimination; the right to be tried as a juvenile or as an adult where the respondent has that choice; the right to trial, with or without a jury; and the right to appeal or to seek other postadjudication relief should be made by the juvenile. Counsel may decide, after consulting with the juvenile, whether to waive other rights of the juvenile.

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