Children and the Law

Reporter:
Elizabeth S. Scott, Columbia Law School, New York, NY 
Associate Reporters: 
Richard J. Bonnie, University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA
Emily Buss, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
Clare Huntington, Columbia Law School, New York, NY
Solangel Maldonado, Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
David D. Meyer, Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, LA [2015-2020]

Part I. Children in Families

Introductory Note

Note on Definition of a “Parent”

Chapter 1. Parental Authority and Responsibilities
  Topic 1. Duty to Provide Economic Support (§ 1.10)
  Topic 2. Education (§ 1.20)
  Topic 3. Medical Care (§ 1.30)
  Topic 4. Duty to Protect Children from Harm (§§ 1.40, 1.41)
  Topic 5. Responsibility for Children’s Misconduct (§ 1.50)
  Topic 6. Decisions About a Child’s Associations (§§ 1.60‑1.62)

Chapter 2. State Intervention for Abuse and Neglect (Intro. Note)
  Note on Indian Child Welfare Act
  Topic 1. Right to Legal Representation (§§ 2.10, 2.11)
  Topic 2. Grounds
    Title A. Abuse (§§ 2.20‑2.23)
    Title B. Neglect (reference Chapter 2, Duty to Protect Children from Harm) (§§ 2.24‑2.26)
  Topic 3. Protecting Family Integrity (§ 2.30)
  Topic 4. State Authority to Remove a Child from the Care of a Parent or Guardian and Arrange for Alternative Care (§§ 2.40‑2.45)
  Topic 5. Obligation of the State to Make Reasonable Efforts to Reunify a Family (§ 2.50)
  Topic 6. Authority of State Courts to Determinations Related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (§ 2.60)
  Topic 7. Obligation of State when Child Is in Foster Care and Rights of Parents and Foster Parents (§§ 2.70, 2.71)
  Topic 8. Termination of Parental Rights (§ 2.80)
  Topic 9. Terminating State Care (§ 2.90)

Chapter 3. Child in Need of Services (Intro. Note)
  Topic 1. Grounds for Court Intervention (§ 3.10)
  Topic 2. Court-Ordered Dispositions (§ 3.20)
  Topic 3. Violation of Court Order (§ 3.30)

Chapter 4. Emancipation of Minors (§ 4.10)

Part II. Children in Schools

Introductory Note

Chapter 5. State Duty to Provide Free Public Education for All Children (§ 5.10)

Chapter 6. Discipline and Order Maintenance (Intro. Note)
  Topic 1. The Use of Force in Response to Student Behavior (§ 6.10)
  Topic 2. Exclusion from School (§ 6.20)

Chapter 7. Student Speech Rights (§ 7.10)

Chapter 8. Religion in Public Schools
  Topic 1. Students’ Religious Rights in Schools (§ 8.10)
  Topic 2. Constraints on Public Schools’ Involvement in Religion (§ 8.20)

Chapter 9. School Searches
  Topic 1. Individualized Searches (§ 9.10)
  Topic 2. Suspicionless Searches (§ 9.20)

Part III. Children in the Justice System

Introductory Note

Chapter 10. Pre-Adjudication
  Topic 1. Search and Seizure (§§ 10.10, 10.11)
  Topic 2. Interrogation and the Admissibility of Statements (Intro. Note; §§ 10.20‑10.23)
  Topic 3. Pre-Adjudication Detention (Intro. Note; §§ 10.30, 10.31)

Chapter 11. Delinquency Proceedings
  Topic 1. Minimum Age in Delinquency Proceedings (§ 11.10)
  Topic 2. Speedy Adjudication Hearing (§ 11.20)
  Topic 3. Representation by Counsel in Delinquency Proceedings (§§ 11.30, 11.31)
  Topic 4. Adjudicative Competence in Delinquency Proceedings (§ 11.40)
  Topic 5. Responsibility Defenses in Delinquency Proceedings (§§ 11.50, 11.51)
  Topic 6. Collateral Consequences of Delinquency Adjudication (§§ 11.60, 11.61)

Chapter 12. Delinquency Dispositions
  Topic 1. Dispositions in Delinquency Proceedings (§§ 12.10, 12.11)
  Topic 2. Duty of State to Provide Services and Regulation of Discipline in Youth Facilities (§§ 12.20, 12.21)

Chapter 13. Juveniles in the Criminal Justice System
  Topic 1. Transfer to Criminal Court (§§ 13.10‑13.12)
  Topic 2. Adjudicative Competence in Criminal Proceedings (§ 13.20)
  Topic 3. Defenses Based on Immaturity in Criminal Proceedings (§§ 13.30, 13.31)
  Topic 4. Sentencing Juveniles in Criminal Court (§ 13.40)

Part IV. Children in Society

Introductory Note

Chapter 14. Medical Decisionmaking by Minors
  Topic 1. Medical Decisions by Mature Minors (§ 14.10)
  Topic 2. Medical Decisions Affecting Reproductive Health (§ 14.20)

Chapter 15. Minors’ Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Outside the School Context (Intro. Note; §§ 15.10, 15.11)

Chapter 16. Juvenile Curfews (§ 16.10)

Chapter 17. Minors’ Obligations and Responsibilities
  Topic 1. Infancy Doctrine in Contract Law (§ 17.10)
  Topic 2. Tort Liability (cross-reference to Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Liability for Physical and Emotional Harm § 10 (2010))