US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      Sec. 54-199. Parent or guardian to accompany minor in court. Representatives of commissioner. Whenever any minor charged with the commission of an offense is to appear in any court, he shall be accompanied by one of his parents, if such parent is physically capable of appearing and is within the jurisdiction of such court, or by his legally appointed guardian, if any. In the case of any child committed to the guardianship of the Commissioner of Social Services or the Commissioner of Children and Families, said commissioner may designate any member of his department to act as his representative. If any such parent, guardian or representative fails to appear in court as required by this section, the court may continue the case until he so appears and may issue a subpoena to compel his attendance. Failure to appear in response to such subpoena shall be punishable as contempt of court. The judge of such court may, in his discretion and for good cause, waive the requirement that a minor be accompanied by his parent, guardian or a department of social services representative.

      (1955, S. 3353d; 1957, P.A. 598; 1969, P.A. 297; 395; P.A. 74-251, S. 14; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87.)

      History: 1969 act added provision allowing judge to waive requirement that minor be accompanied by parent, guardian or welfare department representative; P.A. 74-251 included cases involving children committed to commissioner of children and youth services; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner and department with commissioner and department of social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of social services with commissioner and department of human resources, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993.

      Since a grand jury is essentially an investigatory body and not a court, the provisions of this section are not applicable when minor is to appear before a grand jury. 171 C. 644, 663. A juvenile defendant shall be accompanied by guardian ad litem if he has one, but appointment of guardian ad litem is not required. Id., 644, 663.

      Cited. 8 CA 607, 612.

      Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 413.