SECTION I.

 

a.) A child taken into custody must either be brought to a juvenile processing office without unnecessary delay where they may not be detained for longer than six hours pursuant to §52.025, Family Code, or another disposition authorized by §52.02, Family Code, including referral to the office designated by the juvenile board as intake for the juvenile court.  The intake officer shall process the child according to the requirement of §53.01, Family Code, and shall also inform the child and the child’s parents of the right to appointed counsel if they are indigent and provide an “Affidavit of Indigence” form for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment of counsel. If the child is not released by intake, then a Detention Hearing shall be held not later than the second working day after the child is taken into custody unless the child is detained on a Friday, Saturday or listed holiday in which case the detention hearing shall be held on the first working day after the child is taken into custody. 

b.) Prior to the detention hearing the court shall inform the parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for  the child’s support, of the child’s right to counsel and to appointed counsel if they are indigent, and of the child’s right to remain silent as to the alleged conduct.

 c.) The detention hearing may be conducted without the presence of the child’s parent(s) or other responsible adult(s), however, in these cases the court must immediately appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem to represent the child.

d.) The court shall provide the attorney for the child access to all written matter to be considered by the   Court in making the detention decision

SECTION II.

1. )Definitions, as used in this rule:

         (1)  “Indigence” means the state of being financially unable to employ counsel.

       (2)  “Net household income”, in the case of a child, is the income of the child’s parents or other  person determined responsible for the support of the child. Such income shall include: take-home wages and salary (gross income earned minus those deductions required by law or as a condition of employment); net self-employment income (gross income minus business expenses, and those deductions required by law or as a condition of operating the business); regular payments from a governmental income maintenance program, alimony, child support, public or private pensions, or annuities; and income from dividends, interest, rents, royalties, or periodic receipts from estates or trusts. Seasonal or temporary income shall be considered on an annualized basis, averaged together with periods in which the person determined responsible for the support of the child has no income
(3)  “Household” means all individuals who are actually dependent on the child’s parent(s) or person(s) deemed responsible for the (financial) support of the child.

        (4)  “The cost of obtaining competent private legal representation” includes the reasonable cost of support services such as investigators and expert witnesses as necessary and appropriate given the nature of the case.

  b.)   Eligibility for Appointment

        (1)   A child is presumed indigent if any of the following conditions or factors are present:

            (A)  At the time of requesting appointed counsel, the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) determined responsible for the support of the child is eligible to receive food stamps, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income or public housing;

            (B)  The net household income of the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) determined responsible for the support of the child does not exceed _165_% of the Poverty Guidelines as revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and published in the Federal Register;(C)  The child’s parent(s) or other person(s) determined responsible for the support of the child is currently serving a sentence in a correctional institution, is currently residing in a public mental health facility, or is subject to a proceeding in which admission or commitment to such a mental health facility is sought; or

 (2)  The child who does not meet any of the standards above shall nevertheless be considered indigent if the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for the support of the child is unable to retain private counsel without substantial hardship. In considering if obtaining private counsel will create a substantial hardship, the appointing authority shall take into account:

             (A)  the nature of the charge(s);

             (B)  anticipated complexity of the defense;

             (C)  the estimated cost of obtaining competent private legal representation for the matter(s) charged;

             (D)  the amount needed for the support of the child, the child’s parent(s)/person(s) responsible for the support of the child, and other dependents of the child’s parent(s)/person(s) responsible; 

             (E)  child’s parent(s’) income or the income of other person(s) determined responsible for the support of the child;

             (F)   source of income;

             (G)  assets and property owned by the child, child’s parent(s), or other person(s) determined responsible for support of the child;

             (H)  outstanding obligations;

             (I)  necessary expenses; and

             (J)  the number and ages of any siblings of the child.                           

       (3)  The resources available to friends or relatives of the child, other than the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) deemed responsible for the support of the child, may not be considered in determining whether the child is indigent.

           

  c.)     Determination of Indigence

       (1)  The appointing authority can require the child and the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for the support of the child to respond to questions about the child’s household financial status, produce documentation supporting financial information provided, and/or order a court official to verify financial information provided.

        (2)   Information gathered for determining indigence, both in the affidavit of indigence and through oral examination, may not be for any purpose other than:

            (A)   Determining if child is (or is not) indigent; or

            (B)   Impeaching direct testimony of the child or the child’s parent(s)/person(s) responsible regarding the child’s indigence.

        (3)   A request by the appointing authority for additional information, documentation, and/or verification cannot delay appointment of counsel beyond the timelines specified in Sections I and IV of these rules.

        (4)   A child determined to be indigent is presumed to remain indigent for the remainder of the case unless a material change in the child’s financial circumstances occurs.

            (A)   A child’s status as indigent or not indigent may be reviewed in a formal hearing at any stage of a court. The child’s indigent status will be presumed not to have changed. The presumption can be rebutted in the review proceedings based on the following:

                (i)  Evidence of a material change in the status of the child’s parent(s)/person(s) responsible for the support of the child or the child’s financial circumstances; or

                    (ii)  Additional information regarding the child’s parent(s)/person(s) responsible for the support of the child or the child’s financial circumstances that shows that they do not meet any of the standards for indigence contained in these rules.

            (B)   If a child previously determined to be indigent is subsequently determined not to be indigent, the attorney shall be compensated by the county according to the fee schedule for hours reasonably expended on the case.

         (5)   If the court determines that a child’s parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for the support of the child has financial resources that enable him to offset in part or in whole the costs of the legal services provided, including any expenses and costs, the court shall order the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for the support of the child to pay during the pendency of the charges or, if found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or CINS, as court costs the amount that the Court finds the child’s parent(s) or other person(s) responsible for the support of the child is able to pay.

SECTION III.

a.) To be approved for inclusion on the list of attorneys qualified for appointment under this, the Liberty County Juvenile Board Plan, an attorney must complete the “Application for Criminal and Juvenile Appointments in Liberty County”, attached hereto, and be in compliance with the following requirements:

        (1)  General Requirements to be approved and included on the list of attorneys:

             (A)   Each attorney on the appointment list must ensure all information on their application is correct.

             (B)   An attorney must be a licensed practicing attorney and a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.

           (C)   An attorney shall submit by October 15^th each year a statement that describes the percentage of the attorney's practice time that was dedicated to work based on appointments accepted in this county for juvenile delinquency cases for the prior 12 months that begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The report must be submitted through the online form to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

             (D)   An attorney shall complete a minimum of six (6) hours of CLE in the area of juvenile law and procedure during each 12 month reporting period. The reporting period will begin on October 1 of each year. 

          (E)   An attorney must annually submit an affidavit, attached hereto as “Affidavit Confirming CLE”, detailing the required CLE or submit documentation showing that the attorney is certified as a specialist in juvenile law. Continuing legal education activity completed within a one year period immediately preceding an attorney’s initial reporting period may be used to meet the educational requirements for the initial year.  Continuing legal education activity completed during any reporting period in excess of the minimum of six (6) hours for such period may be applied to the following period’s requirement.  The carryover provision applies to one year only.

             (F)   An attorney must be knowledgeable in juvenile law and be aware of collateral consequences of a juvenile adjudication and disposition.

             (G)   An attorney may not have been the recipient of any public disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas or any other attorney licensing authority of any state or the United States within the last three (3) years.

             (H)   An attorney must maintain an office in Liberty County (or receive a waiver approved by the judge of the appointing court) and be capable of receiving email, fax, and telephone calls.  Attorneys must maintain an email address which shall be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  These numbers and email addresses shall be included on the Application for Appointment and shall be the official contact information utilized by the Court to inform counsel of appointment or court hearings.  Also,

(i)    If an attorney does not maintain an office in Liberty County, he/she may be approved if the attorney’s criminal caseload (misdemeanor, juvenile and           felony combined) in Liberty County is sufficient for the Judge of the appointing court to approve a waiver described above.

(ii)   This section does not apply to approved attorneys fluent in languages other than English.

(iii) This section does not apply to approved attorneys qualified as provided in Article 26.052, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

            (I)   An attorney must have the ability to produce typed motions and orders.

            (J)   An attorney shall notify each court promptly, in writing, of any matter that would disqualify the attorney by law, regulation, rule, or under these guidelines from receiving appointments to represent indigent defendants.

        (2)  Specific Requirements to be approved and included on the list of attorneys qualified for appointment, for

             (A)  CINS Charges or Delinquent Conduct where commitment to T.J.J.D. is an authorized disposition:

                                    (i)   Meet the General Requirements; and

                                    (ii)  Must have observed or participated in at least:

-     1      juvenile adjudication; and

-     1      juvenile disposition; and

 -     1      detention hearing; and

(iii)  Participated in at least     1      criminal or juvenile trial and/or qualified as determined by the presiding Judge on a case by case basis.

           (B)   Delinquent Conduct where Determinate Sentence Proceedings have been initiated; or Proceedings for Discretionary Transfer to Criminal Court have been initiated:

 (i)    Meet General Requirements;

(iii) Have experience in juvenile law and/or minimum qualifications as determined by the presiding judge on a case by case basis

                                    (iii)  Tried at least     1      criminal or juvenile case as lead counsel and/or qualified as determined by the presiding judge on a case by case basis.

b.)   Approval for Appointment Lists - An attorney must be approved by a Juvenile Judge to be placed on the appointment list.

c.)    Reinstatement to Appointment Lists

(1)  An attorney who was removed from the appointment list for non-completion of the required CLE hours may be immediately reinstated upon providing proof to a juvenile judge that the attorney has completed the required hours so long as the attorney otherwise meets the other qualifications under this Plan.

  (2)  An attorney who was removed from the appointment list for not submitting the attorney's annual practice time report may be immediately reinstated upon submission of the report so long as the attorney otherwise meets the other qualifications under this Plan.

  (3)  An attorney who has been removed from the appointment list for any other reason and who wishes to be reinstated must apply through the original application process. 

d.)    Duties of Appointed Counsel - Appointed Counsel shall:

  (1)  Notify the court within 72 hours of the receipt of appointment;

    (2)  Make every reasonable effort to:

(A)   Contact the child by the end of the first day after the date on which the attorney is appointed; and

                (B)   Interview the child as soon as practicable after the attorney is appointed;

   (3)  Represent the child until:

        (A)   The case is terminated;

        (B)   An attorney is retained to represent the child; or

        (C)   The attorney is relieved of his duties by the court or replaced by other counsel. 

    (4)  Investigate, either by self or through an investigator, the facts of the case and be prepared to   present any factual defense that may be reasonably and arguably available to the child;

   (5)   Brief the law of the case and be prepared to present any legal defense that may be reasonably and arguably available to the child;

   (6)   Be prepared to negotiate with the prosecutor for the most favorable solution of the case as can be achieved through a plea agreement;

   (7)   Be prepared to try the case to conclusion either with or without a jury;

   (8)   Be prepared to file post-trial motions, give notice of appeal and appeal the case pursuant to the standards and requirements of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure;

   (9)   Maintain reasonable communication and keep the child informed of the status of the case;

  (10)  Advise the child on all matters involving the case and such collateral matters as may reasonably be required to aid the client is making appropriate decisions about the case;

(11)  Perform the attorney’s duty owed to the child in accordance with these procedures, the requirements of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Family Code, and applicable rules of ethics; and

  (12)   Manage attorney’s workload to allow for the provision of quality representation and the execution of the responsibilities listed in these rules in every case.

SECTION IV.

 

a.)   Appointment of Counsel for Children in Detention

   (1)  Prior to the detention hearing the court shall inform the parties of the child’s right to counsel and to appointed counsel if they are indigent, and of the child’s right to remain silent as to the alleged conduct.

   (2)  Unless the court finds that the appointment of counsel is not feasible due to exigent circumstances, the court shall appoint counsel within a reasonable time before the first detention hearing is held to represent the child at that hearing.

   (3)  Prior to the initial detention hearing, the court shall provide the attorney for the child with access to all written matter to be considered by the court in making the detention decision.

   (4)  If there is no parent or other responsible adult present, the court shall appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem for the child.

   (5)  If the juvenile is detained, the child has an immediate right to counsel. If counsel has not already been appointed, the court must either appoint counsel or direct the juvenile’s parent or other responsible adult to retain an attorney promptly. The court may enforce an order to retain counsel by appointing an attorney to represent the child and requiring that the child’s parent or other responsible adult reimburse the court for attorneys’ fees. 

(6)  Upon appointment, the court administrator shall notify the appointed attorney by fax, e-mail, or personal contact of the appointment and the scheduled hearing time and date.

(7)  The appointed attorney shall make every reasonable effort to contact a child in detention by the end of the first working day after receiving the notice of appointment or to inform the court that the appointment cannot be accepted.  Contacting the child in detention may be by personal visit (including contact during a detention hearing), by phone, or by video teleconference. Contacting the court may be by fax, email, phone or personal visit. A court-appointed attorney shall contact the child, in one of the ways mentioned above, no less than once every ten working days while the child remains in detention.

(8)  An attorney appointed for a detention hearing shall continue to represent the child until the case is terminated, the family retains an attorney, or a new attorney is appointed by the juvenile court. Release of the child from detention does not terminate the attorney’s representation.

     (9)  Court-appointed attorneys shall make every effort to comply with the Texas State Bar Code of Ethics for communication with a client.

b.)     Appointment of Counsel for Children not Detained at Intake

     (1)  If the child is released from detention and if a petition to adjudicate or a motion to modify is filed, the juvenile court will use the financial forms gathered at intake to make a determination of indigence. If no financial information is available, the juvenile court shall promptly summon the child’s parent/guardian/custodian to the court so that financial information may be gathered for a determination of indigence.

(2)  If the court makes a finding of indigence, the court shall appoint an attorney on or before the fifth working day after:

           (A)   The date a petition for adjudication or discretionary transfer hearing has been served on the child; or

        (B)   A motion to modify disposition seeking commitment to or placing in secure correctional facility has been filed.

       (3)  If the family does not qualify for appointed counsel or if the parent or guardian is not available, and the family fails to provide an attorney, the juvenile court may appoint an attorney in any case in which it deems representation necessary to protect the interests of the child.

      (4)  The prosecuting attorney/court clerk shall notify the juvenile court upon the filing of and return of service of a motion to modify or the return of service of a petition for adjudication or discretionary transfer.

SECTION V.

 

a.)  The appointing authority will identify which of the appointment lists, discussed in the attorney qualifications section, is most appropriate based on the accusations against the child and will appoint the attorney whose name is first on the list, unless the court makes a finding of good cause for appointing an attorney out of order. Good cause may include:

(1)  The child requesting counsel does not understand English, in which case the judge will appoint the lawyer whose name appears next in order and speaks the clients’ language, if one is available;

(2)  The child has an attorney already appointed on a prior pending or concluded matter. The same attorney may be appointed to the new matter, unless the attorney is not on the list for the type of offense involved in the current case;

(3)  An initial detention hearing is scheduled and the first attorney on the list is unavailable; or

(4)  Other good cause exists for varying from the list.

b.)    Once appointed, an attorney’s name will be moved to the bottom of the appointment list. An attorney who is not appointed in the order in which the attorney’s name appears on the list shall remain next in order on the list.

c.)     Judicial Removal from Case:

(1)  The judge presiding over a case involving a child may remove appointed counsel upon entering a written order showing good cause for such removal, including without limitation, the following:

     (A)   Counsel’s failure to appear at a court hearing;

     (B)   Counsel’s failure to comply with the requirements imposed upon counsel by this plan;

     (C)   Current information about the child and the charges against the child indicate that another qualified attorney is more appropriate for the child under these rules;

     (D)   The appointed counsel shows good cause for being removed, such as illness, workload or scheduling difficulties;

     (E)   The child requests an attorney, other than trial counsel, for appeal; or

     (F)   The child shows good cause for removal of counsel, including counsel’s persistent or prolonged failure to communicate with the child.

     (G)   Counsel has been retained and a substitution of counsel is effected.

  (2)   Appointment of Replacement Counsel - Whenever appointed counsel is removed under this section, replacement counsel shall immediately be selected and appointed in accordance with the procedures described in this plan.

SECTION VI.

a.)    Court appointed counsel shall be compensated for all reasonable and appropriate services rendered in representing the accused. Compensation shall be reasonable for time and effort expended and will be in accordance with a fee schedule adopted and approved by the Juvenile Board.

b.)     Payment Process - No payment of attorney’s fees will be made other than in accordance with the rules set forth below.

     (1)  An appointed attorney shall fill out and submit a fee voucher to the court for services rendered.

(2)   The trial judge presiding over the proceedings shall review the request for compensation and either approve or disapprove of the amount requested.

(A)   If a judge disapproves a request for compensation, the judge shall make written findings, stating the amount of payment that the judge approves and each reason for approving an amount different from the requested amount.

 (B)   An attorney whose request for payment is disapproved or is not otherwise acted on by the 60^th day after the date the request for payment is submitted may appeal the disapproval or failure to act by filing a motion with the presiding judge of this administrative judicial region.

 c.)     Payment of Expenses:

(1)  Court appointed counsel will be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred, including expenses for investigation and for mental health and other experts. Expenses incurred with and without prior approval shall be paid according to the procedures set forth below. Whenever possible prior court approval should be obtained before expenses are incurred.

(2)  Procedure With Prior Court Approval:

 (A) Appointed Counsel may file with the trial court a pretrial ex parte confidential request for advance payment of investigative and expert expenses. The request for expenses must state the below, as applicable:

            (i)   The type of investigation to be conducted or the type of expert to be retained;

(ii)   Specific facts that suggest the investigation will result in admissible evidence or that the services of an expert are reasonably necessary to assist in the preparation of a potential defense; and

(iii)   An itemized list of anticipated expenses for each investigation and/or each expert.

      (B)  The court shall grant the request for advance payment of expenses in whole or in part if the request is reasonable. If the court denies in whole or in part the request for expenses, the court shall:

                                       (ii).   State the reasons for the denial in writing;

                                       (iii).   Attach the denial to the confidential request; and

                                       (iii).   Submit the request and denial as a sealed exhibit to the record.

 

  (3)  Procedure Without Prior Court Approval:

                                 Appointed counsel may incur investigative or expert expenses without prior approval of the court. On presentation of a claim for reimbursement, the court shall order reimbursement of counsel for the expenses, if the expenses are reasonably necessary and reasonably incurred. Unreasonable or unnecessary expenses will not be approved.

                                                                                                                         

SECTION VII.

 

Any Judge authorized to hear Juvenile cases retains authority to waive any portion of this plan in exceptionally justified cases or when determined necessary for the fair and impartial administration of Justice.

Liberty Juvenile Board Affidavit Confirming CLE.docx (10/31/2019 10:19:54 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Affidavit of Indigence.doc (11/1/2023 8:47:16 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Attorney Application for Appointment.pdf (11/1/2023 8:47:58 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Attorney Fee Schedule.doc (11/1/2023 8:48:35 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Attorney Fee Voucher.pdf (11/1/2023 8:50:54 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Liberty County Juvenile Board Affidavit Confirming CLE.docx (10/29/2021 9:51:25 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Liberty County Juvenile Board Magistrate Warning to Juvenile.pdf (10/29/2021 9:53:29 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Liberty Juvenile Board Magistrate Warning to Juvenile.pdf (11/1/2023 8:55:10 AM) view
Liberty Juvenile Board Magistrate Warning to Juvenile.pdf (10/31/2019 10:20:41 AM) view