RE: GUARDIAN AD LITEM JUVENILE DELINQUENCY SECTION


The Court recognizes the need to establish a Juvenile Delinquency Section of the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Guardian Ad Litem Program to provide a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of some children involved in juvenile delinquency cases; and

Guardians are appointed in dependency cases relative to personal decisions that have to be made concerning some children; and

Some children charged with acts of delinquency have no proper parental guidance to whom they can turn to evaluate and make decisions concerning their cases; and

Attorneys representing children in delinquency cases are sometimes placed in the position of having to make personal, non-legal decisions for the benefit of a child which is outside the scope of proper legal representation, and which may or may not be in the best interest of the child; and

The Clearwater Bar Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, and the Honorable Robert E. Jagger,Public Defender of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, have communicated to the Court their desire to participate in a pro bono program in which attorneys act as guardians ad litem in some juvenile delinquency cases, representing the best interest of the child and making personal decisions relative to delinquency charges; and

The Court is aware of the growing need to give advice and counsel to some children who are charged with acts of delinquency in order that there might be a greater possibility of rehabilitating such children and because the interest of the community might be well served by having a guardian ad litem appointed in some delinquency cases; now, therefore, it is

ORDERED:

1. The Juvenile Delinquency Section of the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Guardian Ad Litem Program is hereby established in Pinellas County.

2. The guardians ad litem appointed to handle cases in the juvenile delinquency section shall represent the best interest of children who are charged with acts of juvenile delinquency. They shall further serve to assist, advise, educate and consult with children charged with delinquent acts in making all personal decisions relating to the charges, including adjudicatory and disposition options.

3. The Juvenile Delinquency Section of the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Guardian Ad Litem Program, in cooperation with the Clearwater Bar Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, and the Office of the Public Defender, shall recruit and train volunteers.

4. The section shall operate under the supervision of the Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit according to the Supreme Court's Guardian Ad Litem Minimal Standards of Operation, a copy of which is attached to this Order.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this 1st day of May, 1996.


/s/Susan F. Schaeffer
Susan F. Schaeffer, Chief Judge