State of Louisiana Versus C.J.

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: December 19, 2024
• Docket: 24-K-617
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 24-K-617

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

C.J. COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

December 19, 2024

Linda Wiseman First Deputy Clerk

IN RE C.J.

APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE JEFFERSON PARISH JUVENILE COURT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE JENNIFER G. WOMBLE, DIVISION "A", NUMBER 2023-JU-140

Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy, Fredericka Homberg Wicker, and Jude G. Gravois

WRIT DENIED

This matter appears before us on an Application for Emergency

Supervisory Writs (the “Emergency Application”) wherein the juvenile, C.J.,

seeks to have this Court reverse the decision of the trial court, arguing that,

under LSA-Ch.C. article 893(A), if the juvenile waives his/her right to the

presentation of evidence as to whether he/she is in need of treatment or

rehabilitation at a post adjudication disposition hearing, no evidence at all can

then be taken by the trial court in fashioning a disposition. On the showing

made, we see no basis upon which to find that the trial court erred in ruling

that even though the juvenile waived presentation of any evidence at the

disposition hearing, the State remains permitted to submit evidence to the

court relative to whether the child is in need of treatment or rehabilitation.

24-K-617 On October 16, 2024, the trial court conducted an adjudication hearing

at which time the juvenile entered an admission to one count of (A) 14:95.8

(illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile) and (B) 14:130.1(B)(1)

(obstruction of justice).1 Having been adjudicated as a delinquent, the trial

court set the matter for a disposition hearing on November 20, 2024, which

was continued to December 5, 2024, at the request of the Department of

Juvenile Services.

The transcript (the “Transcript”) and the Minute Entry (the “Minute

Entry”) of the December 18, 2024 disposition hearing which were submitted

with the Emergency Application reflect that at the December 5, 2024,

disposition hearing, the juvenile requested to waive the presentation of

evidence and a formal disposition hearing. Counsel for the juvenile contended

that the waiver applied to all evidence that may be presented at the disposition

hearing by either party. The State contended that the waiver by the juvenile

did not prevent the State from presenting evidence under Ch.C. article 893.

The trial court then continued the disposition hearing until December 18,

2024, and requested that the parties brief two issues: (1) whether, in the face

of the waiver by the juvenile of the presentation and disposition hearing under

Article 893(A), the State is barred from introducing any evidence and (2)

whether a video tape that the State proposed to enter into evidence was more

prejudicial than probative as to whether the child is in need of treatment or

rehabilitation.

The Transcript and Minute Entry reveal that briefs were filed on these

issues on behalf of the juvenile and by the State. However, those briefs were

not attached to the Emergency Writ. The applicant in the Emergency Writ

1 Another count of violating La. R.S. 40:967(C)(1) (possession of less than two grams of a controlled Schedule II substance) was dismissed. 2 cites only to Ch.C. article 893 and three cases, State in the Interest of O.R.,

95-890 (La. App. 5h Cir. 2/25/97), 690 So.2d 200, State in the Interest of K.G.,

34, 535 (La. App. 2 Cir. 1/24/01), 778 So.2d 716 and State in the Interest of

K.H., 98-632 (La. App 5 Cir. 12/16/98), 725 So.2d 583.

Article 893(A) states:

At the disposition hearing, unless the child waives the presentation, the court shall hear evidence as to whether the child is in need of treatment or rehabilitation and shall make and file its findings.

Sections (B), (C), and (D) of Article 893 relate to the presentation of

evidence at the disposition hearing. The trial court, after pointing out the

provisions of Article 893, then correctly found that there is a presumption that

a disposition hearing will occur. LSA-Ch.C. art. 892 expressly so provides,

stating, in pertinent part that “[p]rior to entering a judgment of disposition, the

court shall conduct a disposition hearing.” (Emphasis added). We do not read

the cases cited by the applicant to stand for the proposition advocated in the

Emergency Writ. In Interest of K.H., a disposition hearing was conducted.

Interest of K.G and Interest of O.R. simply hold that, unless waived by the

juvenile, a disposition without giving the juvenile the opportunity to present

evidence must be vacated and a disposition hearing must be conducted.

The trial court found that Article 893(A) gives the child the right to

waive the presentation of evidence for himself, but that the child cannot waive

the State’s right to provide evidence. The purpose of a disposition hearing is

to hear evidence in order to make a determination of whether the child is in

need of treatment or rehabilitation. Interest of O.R., 96-880, p. 5, 690 So.2d

at 202. As stated in In re State in the Interest of Cook, 145 So.2d 627, 629-

30 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1962):

[A] juvenile court is in no sense a criminal court. It is, rather, a civil court devoted to the furtherance of the welfare of children who fall within the purview of [La. Ch.C. art. 801]…In considering the welfare

3 of the individual child, the court has the right and the duty to consider the entire background and pattern of behavior of the child. It cannot be limited to consideration of isolated incidents of misbehavior, without reference to other related acts which can be of assistance to the court in making its disposition of the case. The primary consideration of the court is the welfare of the child. In order for a juvenile judge to be effective, he cannot be bound by the strict procedural and evidentiary rules as is the judge in a criminal case.

*** …[T]he widest discretion should be left in the hands of the trial judge.

In this case, the transcript reflects that the trial court found that it will

be severely hampered in its ability to fashion an appropriate disposition for

the child in question if no evidence is presented bearing on whether the child

is in need of treatment or rehabilitation. On the showing made, we cannot say

that the trial court abused its vast discretion in this matter. For these reasons,

the Application for Emergency Supervisory Writs filed herein on behalf of the

juvenile C.J. is DENIED.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 19th day of December, 2024.

FHW SMC JGG

4 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. WISEMAN JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIRST DEPUTY CLERK SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS DAY 12/19/2024 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

24-K-617 E-NOTIFIED Juvenile Court (Clerk) Honorable Jennifer G. Womble (DISTRICT JUDGE) Thomas J. Butler (Respondent) Brian A. Pena (Relator)

MAILED Mallory Grefer (Respondent) Assistant District Attorney 1546 Gretna Boulevard Harvey, LA 70059