Bill > LB995

This bill mandates that juvenile courts must appoint legal counsel for juveniles in specific situations, particularly when a juvenile court petition is filed alleging jurisdiction over the juvenile, and also requires these courts to provide written materials to parties explaining the right to counsel. It clarifies that juveniles have the right to appointed counsel at all subsequent hearings related to these allegations. The bill also revises the conditions under which a juvenile can waive their right to counsel, stipulating that such a waiver must be made in open court, recorded, in writing, and confirmed after the juvenile has received and understood written information about their right to counsel, and that the waiver must be intelligent, voluntary, and understanding, considering the juvenile's age, intelligence, education, emotional stability, and the complexity of the proceedings. Furthermore, it explicitly states that parents or guardians cannot waive a juvenile's right to counsel and outlines specific circumstances, such as when a juvenile is under fourteen or for certain types of hearings, where the right to counsel cannot be waived.

Justice

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63249