Miss. R. Youth Ct. Prac. 22

As amended through March 21, 2024

Rule 22 - SUMMONS

(a) Adjudication hearings.

(1) Persons summoned. When a petition has been filed and the date of hearing has been set by the youth court, the judge or the judge's designee shall order the clerk of the youth court to issue a summons to the following to appear personally at such hearing: the child named in the petition; the person or persons who have custody or control of the child; the parent or guardian of the child if such parent or guardian does not have custody of the child; and any other person whom the court deems necessary. The clerk does not need to issue summons to:

(i) any person who has already been served with process or who has already appeared in court proceedings in the cause; and

(ii) who has received sufficient notice of the time, date, place and purpose of the adjudication hearing.

(2) Form. The form of the summons shall be pursuant to section 43-21-503 of the Mississippi Code.

Additionally, the following notice shall be placed in capital letters at the bottom of the summons:

A PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN OF A CHILD SHALL BE A PARTY TO THIS CASE PURSUANT TO THE MISSISSIPPI YOUTH COURT LAW. A PERSON MADE A PARTY TO THIS CASE MAY BE REQUIRED: TO PAY FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CHILD PLACED IN CUSTODY OF ANY PERSON OR AGENCY INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 43-21-615 OR SECTION 43-21-619 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE;TO PAY FOR COURT ORDERED MEDICAL AND OTHER EXAMINATIONS AND TREATMENT OF A CHILD, FOR REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COURT COSTS, AND FOR OTHER EXPENSES FOUND NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD PURSUANT TO SECTION 43-21-619 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE; TO PAY DAMAGES OR RESTITUTION AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A COUNSELING PROGRAM OR OTHER SUITABLE FAMILY TREATMENT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 43-21-619 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE; TO RECEIVE COUNSELING AND PARENTING CLASSES PURSUANT TO SECTION 43-21-605 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE; TO DO OR OMIT TO DO ANY ACT DEEMED REASONABLE AND NECESSARY FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CHILDPURSUANT TO SECTION 43-21-617 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE.

(3) Manner of service.

(i) Who may serve summons. Service of summons shall be made by a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other person appointed by the youth court judge. Any person appointed to serve summons shall, for such purpose, be an officer of the youth court.

(ii) Notice of time, date, and place. Notice of the time, date, place and purpose of any hearing other than adjudicatory and transfer hearings shall be given to all parties in person in court or by mail, or in any other manner as the youth court may direct.

(iii) If parent, guardian, or custodian exercising parental responsibilities resides and can be located within the state. Service of summons shall be made personally by delivery of a copy of the summons with a copy of the petition in a sealed envelope attached to the summons. A child may be served in the same manner as an adult. Service of the summons and petition, motions, notices and all other papers upon a child who has not reached his fourteenth birthday shall be effectuated by making service upon the child's parent, guardian or custodian and guardian ad litem, if any.

(iv) If parent, guardian, or custodian exercising parental responsibilities does not reside or cannot be located within the state. If the parent, guardian, or custodian exercising parental responsibilities does not reside within the state or cannot be located therein, the clerk shall issue summons to the guardian ad litem. If the name and post office address of the parent or guardian who does not reside within the state or cannot be located therein can be ascertained, the clerk shall mail by "certified mail" ten (10) days before the date set for the hearing a copy of the summons with a copy of the petition attached to the summons to such parent or guardian. The clerk shall note the fact of such mailing upon the court docket. Ten (10) days after the summons has been mailed, the court may take jurisdiction as if summons had been personally served as herein provided.

(4) Time. Summons shall be served not less than three (3) days before the date set for the adjudicatory hearing of proceedings concerning the child, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory state holidays.

(5) Waiver of summons by a party other than the child. Service of summons on a party other than the child may be waived by that party by written stipulation or by voluntary appearance at the hearing. In the case of written stipulation or voluntary appearance, the youth court may, in its discretion, proceed to a hearing regardless of the date set for the hearing if all other parties are properly before the youth court. At the time of the waiver, a copy of the petition shall be given to the party.

(6) Waiver of three (3) days' time before hearing by a child served with process. If a child is served with process, the child may waive the three (3) days' time before the hearing, and the youth court may, in its discretion, proceed to a hearing regardless of the date set for the hearing if all other parties are properly before the youth court and the youth court finds all of the following: the child fully understands his/her rights and fully understands the potential consequences of the hearing; the child voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly waives his rights to three (3) days' time before thehearing; the child is effectively represented by counsel; and the child has had in fact sufficient time to prepare.

(7) Enforcement. Any person summoned who fails to appear without reasonable cause may be proceeded against for contempt of court. In case the summons cannot be served or the parties served with summons fail to obey the same, or in any case when it shall be made to appear to the youth court that the service of summons will be ineffectual or the welfare of a child requires that the child be brought forthwith into the custody of the youth court, a warrant or custody order may be issued against the parent, parents, guardian or custodian or against the child.

(b) Disposition hearings. Service of summons for disposition hearings shall be made pursuant to Rule 22(a) of these rules. The clerk does not need to issue summons to:

(i) any person who has already been served with process or who has already appeared in court proceedings in the cause; and (ii) who has received sufficient notice of the time, date, place and purpose of the disposition hearing.

(c) Modification of disposition hearings. Service of summons for modification of disposition hearings shall be made pursuant to Rule 22(a) of these rules. The clerk does not need to issue summons to:

(i) any person who has already been served with process or who has already appeared in court proceedings in the cause; and (ii) who has received sufficient notice of the time, date, place and purpose of the modification hearing.

(d) Permanency hearings. Service of summons for permanency hearings shall be made pursuant to Rule 29(b) of these rules.

(e) Permanency review hearings. Service of summons for permanency review hearings shall be made pursuant to Rule 31(b) of these rules.

Comments & Procedures

Rule 22(a)(1).

This provision comports with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-501(2008).

Persons who should always be present at the adjudication hearing in abuse and neglect cases include: "judge or judicial officer; parents whose rights have not been terminated, including putative fathers; relatives with legal standing or other custodial adults; assigned caseworker; agency attorney; attorney for parents (separate attorney if conflict warrants); legal advocate for the child and/or GAL/CASA; court reporter or suitable technology; and security personnel." NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES, RESOURCE GUIDELINES: IMPROVING PRACTICE IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES 52 (1995). Other persons whose presence may be needed at the permanency hearing include: "age-appropriate children; extended family members; adoptive parents; judicial case management staff; service providers; other witnesses." Id.

Rule 22(a)(2).

This provision comports with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-503(2008).

Rule 22(a)(3).

This provision comports with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-505(2008).Due process requires that the child and the parents or guardian receive notice. See Application of Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 33-34 (1967) ("[Due process of law] does not allow a hearing to be held in which a youth's freedom and his parents' right to his custody are at stake without giving them timely notice, in advance of the hearing, of the specific issues that they must meet."); In re Litdell, 232 So.2d 733, 735 (Miss.1970) ("Due process requires only that reasonable notice be given."); Hopkins v. Youth Court, 227 So. 2d 282, 284 (Miss. 1969) ("The youth court is without jurisdiction unless the parents or guardian if available, be summoned as required by statute.").

Rule 22(a)(4), -(5), -(6).

These provisions comport with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-507(2008). A child cannot waive due process required by law. See In re Edwards, 298 So. 2d 703, 704 (Miss. 1974) ("The notice to the parents may be waived by them, but not process on the minor.").

Rule 22(a)(7).

This provision comports with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-509(2008).

Rule 22(b), -(c).

These provisions comport with the statutory procedures. See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 43-21-501 to -507 (2008).

Persons who should always be present at the disposition hearing of a child adjudicated abused or neglected include: "judge or judicial officer; parents whose rights have not been terminated, including putative fathers; relatives with legal standing or other custodial adults; assigned caseworker; agency attorney; attorney for parents (separate attorney if conflict warrants); legal advocate for the child and/or GAL/CASA; court reporter or suitable technology; and security personnel." NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES, RESOURCE GUIDELINES: IMPROVING PRACTICE IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES 63 (1995). Other persons whose presence may be needed at the disposition hearing include: "age-appropriate children; extended family members; adoptive parents; judicial case management staff; service providers; adult or juvenile probation or parole officer; other witnesses." Id.

Miss. R. Youth Ct. Prac. 22

The Uniform Rules of Youth Court Practice were revised by order entered 7/17/2012; amended effective 12/1/2016.