In Re Alonzo J., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. the People, Plaintiff and Respondent v. Alonzo J…

Summary

The court held that a juvenile in a delinquency proceeding may not enter a no contest plea without the consent of counsel. It construed the governing juvenile court rule in light of its text, structure, history, and the legislative purpose of protecting juveniles, and concluded that no contest pleas and admissions have the same legal effect. The court also rejected the claim that a juvenile has an absolute constitutional right to accept a plea offer over counsel's objection, and reversed the Court of Appeal.