Superior Court Issues Orders on Practice Standards for Juvenile Attorneys and Mental Health Panel

February 18, 2025

On February 13 the Superior Court of the District of Columbia issued a series of administrative orders regarding certain practice standards for attorneys.

Administrative Order 25-05 sets forth the Attorney Practice Standards for Post-Commitment Juvenile Attorneys, which are intended to define the role and responsibilities of counsel and improve the quality of representation for respondents in juvenile delinquency cases whom the Family Court has committed to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

Administrative Order 25-06 amends the Attorney Practice Standards for Representing Juveniles Charged With Delinquency or as Persons in Need of Supervision to include the new Attorney Practice Standards for Post-Commitment Juvenile Attorneys.

Finally, Administrative Order 25-07 amends the Attorney Practice Standards for the Mental Health Panel by reducing the continuing formal legal training requirement from 16 hours to 12 hours.

The three orders take effect immediately.