WPCT  k)A3Any&.=! :s^5 8v-w7J [Mv@Q4V_%^dglsM}<aU}h}=rG^_ !2Bi;M$yj.o"-LXiZ9̎Uk ڏϵF٦( ]iP}b!.[H.?o=k(VG;3X.S8q$͑]G&2m{l qdu^llPcɨ<( H>v7ODtț@56i˜|t  z]%fYnWwQ>+B8cQ.:rjWמ|6Xg@r]˺6H.h}sAɉ|Xj+m\[> d1f^=B2QZ ## U: %/ 0c5w@4Y 0\ 0D?GU: = U: B7 HP LaserJet 5/5M PostScriptPSCRIPT0nL,rAZ"Arial RegularX(;$PXXXX DEDE"e$|x O  Q$PXXXX   1    XXXThereisalsotheglaringproblemofaviolationoftheconstitutionallymandatedseparationof `  powers.Weleavethisissuefortheproperlegalauthorities.(W(3Q$ !PXXXX     0  (%$  1   5  $ XXXX    1     XXXThereisalsotheglaringproblemofaviolationoftheconstitutionallymanddatedsepaarationof `  powers.Weleavethisissuefortheproperlegalauthorities.,rAZ"Arial Regular 3  $XXXX    1    XXXThereisalsotheglaringproblemofaviolationoftheconstitutionallymandatedseparationof `  powers.Weleavethisissuefortheproperlegalauthorities.,rAZ"Arial Regular d !PXXXX  PқTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T`   @xx#A JUDICIALETHICSCOMMITTEE  `  @#A ADVISORYOPINIONNO.985   b   ThisCommitteehasbeenaskedtorenderanopinionregardingtheproprietyofjuvenilecourtjudgesandtheiremployeessupervisingprobationandotherprogramsforjuvenileswhomtheyhaveplacedonanytypeofprobation.Includedinthisissueistheappointmentandsupervisionofprobationofficersforjuvenilecourt.  Eachyear,theStateprovidesparticipatingcountieswithsupplementalfundsfortheimprovementofjuvenilecourtservices.T.C.A.371162(a).Ajuvenilecourtacceptingthesefundsisstatutorilyrequiredtoemployayouthservicesofficertobeappointedandsupervisedbythecourt.Id.ItistheCommitteesopinionthatthe f implementationofthesestatutoryrequirementsgivetheappearanceofimpropriety,inviolationofCanon2oftheCodeofJudicialConduct.  Youthservicesofficersservethesameroleasprobationofficersserveforadults.Amongtheirmanyduties,youthservicesofficersreceiveandexaminecomplaintsandallegationsofdelinquencyforthepurposeofconsideringwhetherproceedingsagainstthejuvenileshouldcommence;makeinvestigations,reports,andrecommendationstothecourt;andmakepredispositionstudiesandsubmitreportsandrecommendationstothecourt.T.C.A.371106(b).Also,youthserviceofficersappearaswitnessesinproceedingsbeforethejudgewhoappointsandsupervisesthem.Byappointingayouthservicesofficertoperformthesefunctionsinthejudgescourtroom,ajuvenilecourtjudgeriskstheappearanceofimpropriety.Forinstance,ifayouthservicesofficersmakesrecommendationsconcerningthedispositionofajuvenilescasetothejuvenilecourtjudgewhoemploysandsupervisesthemtheofficer,itcouldbearguedthattheultimatedecisiontoadjudicatethejuveniledelinquentwasnotneutrallyandimpartiallymade.Itcouldalsobearguedthatthejuvenilecourtjudgegivesgreateror 9&06 greaterdeferencetoanyrecommendationofayouthservicesofficerheorshehasappointedand/orsupervises.Forthesesamereasons,theCommitteebelievesitisethicallyimproperforajuvenilecourtjudgetosuperviseanentirejuvenileprobationprogram.̛̛  Thereisalsotheglaringproblemofaviolationoftheconstitutionallymandatedseparationofpowers.Weleavethisissuefortheproperlegalauthorities.    %  1       d   Insum,itisthisCommitteesopinionthatajuvenilecourtjudgewhoappointsandsupervisestheyouthservicesofficersappearinginhisorhercourtand/orrunstheyouthprobationprogramisnotacting inamannerthatpromotespublicconfidenceintheintegrityandimpartialityofthejudiciary.SeeCanon2,Codeof ` JudicialConduct.ItisalsothisCommitteesopinionthatthebetterpracticewouldbetoallowtheexecutivebranchtoemploy,supervise,andoperateeachcountysprobationprogram.   X      `   ______________________________   X      `   JOHNH.PEAY,Chairperson