Family and the Youth Court

Appearing in court

Parents, guardians or caregivers must be told if a case is going ahead. Being told must include an explanation of their rights to:

• appear at any hearing

• have their lawyer with them.

A parent, guardian or caregiver may also get a summons to appear in court themselves.

Youth Court hearings are private. The only people allowed to be there are:

• the young person and their lawyer

• parents, guardians or caregivers, and their lawyer, if they wish

• any member of the family, whanau or family group

• a representative of the family group conference

• a lay advocate, who supports the young person, and/or their parent, guardian or caregiver

• anyone the judge allows to be there, such as the victim, or family or whanau members the young person wants to be there.

Parents, guardians and caregivers have the right to speak in court or have their lawyer speak for them.

The judge must explain what's happening to the young person and their family so they can understand and take part in the hearing.

If the first or preferred language of the young person and their parent, guardian or caregiver is Maori or any language other than English, the court must give them an interpreter.