The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees children in juvenile court effective assistance of counsel—the same rights afforded adults in criminal court. Juvenile delinquency cases are complex and every child client must have access to qualified, well-resourced counsel. CJDC seeks to ensure that mandate is realized for Colorado’s children by producing a practical hands-on juvenile defense manual.
The CJDC Juvenile Defense Manual Project will publish a comprehensive state-based manual that describes the Children’s Code, the Rules of Juvenile Procedure, practice tips, and sample motions and briefs with at-the-ready case citations. Our manual will be an easy to use resource juvenile defenders can bring to court every day to ensure excellence in juvenile defense and protect the rights of Colorado’s children.
Many attorney members of CJDC have volunteered multiple hours of their time to draft chapters for a juvenile defense manual. CJDC has identified a juvenile defense expert to complete the manual and is actively seeking funding for the costs of writing and publication.
CJDC expects to finish the manual by Summer of 2013. Click here to donate to CJDC’s Juvenile Defense Manual Project.
