Juvenile Law Center

Juvenile Law Center and two private attorneys filed this brief on behalf of an eleven-year-old charged with the murder of his stepmother. The brief argued that the trial court’s interpretation of the transfer statute requiring the juvenile’s confession at the pre-adjudicatory decertification hearing in order to demonstrate his ability to be rehabilitated in the juvenile system was in violation of his right against self-incrimination and rights to due process and fundamental fairness under both the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions.

Challenged a provision of the PA Juvenile Act that barred Philadelphia adjudicated youth from returning to their regular public schools after they were discharged from residential delinquency placements.

Argued that juveniles facing severe, adult-like consequences in the juvenile court system must be afforded the right to jury trials.

Argued that failure of the court to on its own raise or otherwise address the issue of competency violates the due process clause of the United States Constitution as well as Indiana law.