Juveniles: attorney qualifications.

Existing law provides that any person under 18 years of age who commits a crime is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, except as specified. Existing law further provides that a minor has the right to counsel 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 the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court regarding the qualifications of appointed counsel in delinquency proceedings. The bill would require these rules to include mandatory training and education standards and core training areas. The bill would also require the rules of court to encourage public defender offices and other agencies that represent minors in delinquency cases to provide juvenile delinquency training. Additionally, the bill would require the rules of court to provide that expert witnesses are agents of the delinquency attorney and must adhere to the attorney-client privilege. The bill would further require the rules of court to specify that a juvenile delinquency attorney is solely responsible for fulfilling the imposed by the rules of court. This bill would also prohibit the rules of court from requiring a delinquency attorney to undertake specified actions.