Right to counsel
Hawaii
,
Legislation
, Truancy - Petition Against Child
Pursuant to Haw. Rev. Stat. § 571-11(2)(C), truancy matters in Hawaii are under the exclusive original jurisdiction of the family court, and such matters are treated as status offenses. See Haw. Rev. Stat. § 571-2 and In re Doe, 22 P.3d 987 (Haw. Ct. App. 1999).
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 571-87(a), found within the general provisions covering family court matters, there is right to appointed counsel upon request for indigent persons. (“When it appears to a judge that a person requesting the appointment of counsel satisfies the requirements of chapter 802 for determination of indigency, … the judge shall appoint counsel … to represent the person at all stages of the proceedings, including appeal, if any.”).
Appointment of Counsel: Yes
Qualified: No
