Juvenile Court

What is it?

Juvenile Court deals with under-age defendants charged in cases of delinquency and dependency. Delinquency refers to acts which would be crimes if committed by adults. Dependency includes cases where parents or guardians can’t adequately care for children. By local court rule, Judge Scott Gardner hears all juvenile matters in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Judge Scott Gardner works with CASA, the Indigent Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, social workers and FINS, as well as state agencies in the juvenile adjudication process.

Resources

If your case involves children, they are protected by strict confidentiality laws. The Court staff will not be able to disclose anything about cases outside of the court hearing itself. If you need advice, it is important that you contact your attorney, the Public Defender, or the District Attorney.