Interim study to examine children's access to legal counsel in juvenile proceedings in Nebraska

This resolution (LR 170) proposes an interim study by Nebraska's Judiciary Committee to examine children's access to legal counsel in juvenile court cases. It will analyze current laws, court data on juveniles requesting or waiving lawyers, local court practices, and national models for ensuring legal representation. The study focuses on both delinquency cases (where youth face criminal charges) and status offenses (non-criminal youth cases like truancy). It does not create new law but aims to inform future policy decisions about juvenile legal access. The study is currently pending referral to the Judiciary Committee.