Also known as:juveniles · juvenile's · juveniles' · minor · child
Written by attorneys — see sources below.
A person who has not attained the age of majority.
See Our Sources
How its tested
Common Examples
6
Default Judgment Blocked
Jacob Jennings failed to appear in a contract suit seeking a fixed sum. The clerk reviewed the affidavit but refused to enter judgment because Jacob was a juvenile. The plaintiff had to apply to the court under the separate rule for minors.
Recusal for Family Interest
A judge learned that her juvenile child held stock in a company that was a party. She immediately disclosed the economic interest and stepped aside from the case.
Gift Rule Exception
A lawyer prepared a will leaving a substantial bequest to her juvenile niece. Because the niece was a close relative, the instrument did not violate the prohibition on client gifts.
Twelve-year-old Justin Jarvis rode his bicycle into a pedestrian. The court measured his conduct against the standard for a child of his age and experience rather than that of a reasonable adult.
Privacy Right Recognized
A state statute barred distribution of contraceptives to unmarried persons. The court struck it down, holding that the privacy right extends to individuals regardless of marital status and therefore protects juveniles.
Custody Order Binding
A state court issued a custody determination after proper notice to all parties, including the juvenile's parents. The order conclusively resolved the issues and bound everyone served.
4 common questions
Students Frequently Ask...
What age range defines a juvenile in delinquency proceedings?
A juvenile is a person who has not reached the age of majority, typically under eighteen, and is subject to a separate juvenile court system rather than adult criminal prosecution.
Why are default judgments treated differently for juveniles?
A clerk may not enter a default judgment for a sum certain against a juvenile who has failed to appear. The plaintiff must apply to the court and ensure the juvenile is represented by a fiduciary.
How does the negligence standard change for a juvenile?
A juvenile is held to the standard of a reasonable child of like age and experience rather than the adult reasonable-person standard unless the juvenile was engaged in an adult activity.
Does a juvenile have independent privacy rights regarding contraception?
The constitutional right of privacy belongs to the individual, married or single, and therefore protects juveniles from unwarranted state intrusion into decisions whether to bear or beget a child.
410 U.S. 113 (1973)
…C. Gen. Stat. § 14-45.1 (Supp. 1971), requires written permission for the abortion from the husband when the woman is a married minor, that is, when she is less than 18 years of age, 41 N. C. A. G. 489 (1971); if the woman is an unmarried minor, written permission from the parents is required. We need not now decide…