Rule Text
The clerk shall inform the minor that she has a right to a court-appointed attorney without cost to her. The court shall appoint an attorney for the minor upon her request. The attorney shall serve as counsel on appeal.
Amendment history: Court Order June 26, 1997, temporary rules effective July 1, 1997; Court Order June 26, 1997, permanent rules effective September 8, 1997; Report November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If a minor is involved in this type of court case, the court clerk has to tell her that she can have a lawyer appointed for her, and it won't cost her anything. If she asks for a lawyer, the court must appoint one to represent her.
This same lawyer will also handle the case if it goes to an appeal. This means the minor doesn't have to find a new lawyer or go through the process again if she wants to challenge the court's decision later. She gets consistent legal help from start to finish.