AB 703: Juveniles: attorney qualifications.

Existing law subjects any person under 18 years of age who commits a crime to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the person to be a ward of the court, except as specified. Under existing law, a minor has the right to counsel of his or her own choice in proceedings to declare the minor a ward of the court. If the minor and his or her parents are indigent, the minor is entitled to appointed counsel.

This bill would require counsel appointed in delinquency proceedings to, among other things, have sufficient contact with the minor to establish and maintain a meaningful and professional attorney-client relationship, including in the postdispositional phase of the proceedings. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by July 1, 2016, to adopt rules of court regarding, among other things, the establishment of minimum hours of training and education, or sufficient recent experience in delinquency proceedings in which the attorney has demonstrated competence, necessary to be appointed as counsel in delinquency proceedings, the establishment of required training areas, and the encouragement of delinquency training provided by public defender offices and other agencies that represent minors in delinquency cases.