In re Ryan B.

*1521 Opinion

The question presented is whether the juvenile court may detain an out-of-custody minor who appears, without counsel, for a pretrial conference without notice he or she might be detained.

I

Each of these minors sought writs of habeas corpus after being detained by the juvenile court when they appeared out of custody, without counsel, for a pretrial conference. We granted each a temporary release and issued orders to show cause returnable in this court. On our own motion, we consolidated the matters because they present nearly identical issues and involve detention orders made by the same juvenile court judge.

A. In re Ryan B.

A petition was filed on June 15, 1989, requesting 16-year-old Ryan B. be declared a ward of the court pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 because he had vandalized 11 different automobiles. The offenses were allegedly committed on April 1, 1989. The police investigating the incident detained the minor on April 10, 1989. He admitted his involvement to the officers and was released to his mother. A pretrial conference was scheduled for July 3, 1989, but no one appeared at that time. The court directed the minor and his…