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 such 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 the Judicial Council to establish minimum hours of training and education necessary in order to be appointed as defense counsel in delinquency proceedings, and would require that training hours approved by the State Bar be counted toward Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) . The bill would specify that these hours do not increase the minimum number of MCLE hours required of all attorneys by the State Bar. The bill would require the Judicial Council, by July 1, 2015, to adopt rules of court in this regard, including, among other things, establishing required training areas and encouraging public defender offices and other agencies that represent minors in delinquency cases to provide juvenile delinquency training. The bill would state legislative findings and declarations regarding the necessity for specialized training and education for defense counsel in delinquency proceedings.