In Re Simeth
In Re Simeth
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Appellant, Rosemarie Simeth, having appealed from an order after an adjudicatory disposition held in the juvenile court, finding and declaring her minor daughter a dependent child, pursuant to section 600, subdivision (a) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, now moves that counsel be appointed to represent her on appeal. The order appealed from removes the child from the mother's custody. Unless the order is modified pursuant to section 775 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code, *Page 984 the mother would not have custody of the child during the years of the child's minority. (Welf. Inst. Code, § 607.)
Appellant's motion by Western Center on Law Poverty, temporary counsel appearing as amicus curiae, is supported by compelling declarations and a consumate brief. An amicus brief was requested by this court and filed by Joseph P. Busch, District Attorney of Los Angeles County, and upon request of this court, a brief has also been filed by the Attorney General.
Appellant's amicus argues convincingly that this court has the inherent, constitutional and statutory authority to make such appointment.
This court in respect of the same question has previously decided that we had no statutory authority. (In re Robinson,
This court has reconsidered In re Robinson in the light of the statutory changes pointed out in the above excerpt and holds without discussion of or resort to any independent constitutional or inherent power it may have *Page 985 that the statutory changes authorize the appointment of counsel in an indigent proceeding such as the one at bench.
The motion is granted.
Compton, J., concurred.
Concurring Opinion
I concur on the ground that appointment of appellate counsel in juvenile court proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code section 600 is now implicitly authorized by rule 2511 of California Rules of Court, effective 1 July 1973, a rule adopted by the Judicial Council under its authority to make rules for court administration not inconsistent with statute. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 6.) Payment for counsel appointed on such appeals may now be made from any funds appropriated for that purpose. (Pen. Code, §
On August 21, 1974, the opinion was modified to read as printed above.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In Re Christine Simeth, a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. County of Los Angeles, and v. Rosemarie Simeth, And
- Cited By
- 19 cases
- Status
- Published