Opinion ID: 1359409
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hewitt I: Juvenile Cases

Text: With specific regard to the twelve orders pertaining to fees in juvenile delinquency matters, the DHHR asserted in Hewitt I that no authority, statutory or otherwise, existed requiring it to pay for the services performed by Dr. Hewitt in conjunction with juvenile matters. The services at issue is Hewitt I were performed by Dr. Hewitt between 1996 and 2001. Consequently, West Virginia Code § 49-7-33, permitting our trial courts to order the DHHR to pay for experts' services in juvenile matters, was not yet in effect. In syllabus point two of Hewitt I, this Court addressed the specific issue of twelve underlying payment orders for juvenile services, entered prior to the effective date of West Virginia Code § 49-7-33, and explained as follows: In recognition of the lack of an express funding obligation provided for expert fees in juvenile delinquency cases and pursuant to our inherent authority to manage the courts of this state, this Court will assume financial responsibility in matters arising under this state's juvenile delinquency laws for the fees properly charged by expert witnesses appointed by the trial courts and subsequently approved for payment. 212 W.Va. at 699, 575 S.E.2d at 309.