LAC 22:XV.1503 – Defense’s Active Participation in Designing the Disposition

A. The active participation of the child client’s attorney at disposition is essential. In many cases, the attorney’s most valuable service to the child client will be rendered at this stage of the proceeding. Counsel should have the disposition hearing held on a subsequent date after the adjudication, unless there is a strategic reason for waiving the delay between adjudication and disposition.
B. Prior to disposition there may be non-court meetings and staffings that can affect the juvenile’s placement or liberty interest. The attorney should attend or participate in these, where possible.
C. The attorney should not make or agree to a specific dispositional recommendation without the child client’s consent.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:148.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Public Defender Board, LR 37:2612 (September 2011), amended LR 45:415 (March 2019).