In Re Eleanor A.

Appellate Defenders, Inc., under appointment by the Court of Appeal, Paul Bell and Dennis Finn for Real Party in Interest and Respondent.

OPINION

STANIFORTH, J.

The Juvenile Court, San Diego County, found its 15-year-old ward Eleanor A. to be a resident of San Bernardino County. Based upon this factual finding the juvenile court ordered the transfer of Eleanor A.'s cause to San Bernardino County. On appeal the County of San Bernardino challenges this finding and the order of transfer based thereon. San Bernardino's appeal is authorized by statute (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 379) and case authority ( Lassen County v. Superior Court, 158 Cal. App.2d 74 [ 322 P.2d 49 ]).

San Bernardino points out that Eleanor was placed in San Bernardino County by an order of the San Diego County Juvenile Court. She did not enter that county voluntarily, nor did she establish a legal residence in San Bernardino County. Eleanor was not present and not represented at the juvenile court hearing. She here contends she was entitled to counsel, for the hearing involved her welfare. She seeks reversal on those grounds. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 317.)

Eleanor A. is a 15-year-old (born Oct. 3, 1962)…