Court Opinion

ID: 9725676
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:58:50.635162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:17.800001
License: Public Domain

KLAPHAKE, Judge
(concurring specialty)-
The majority’s decision, which I join, is further buttressed by the reciprocal requirements for referral of juveniles under state and federal law. Under federal law, after a juvenile is arrested and charged with a federal offense, the “United States Attorney” may “surrender” the juvenile to a state if the offense would constitute a state crime and the state agrees to assume jurisdiction over the juvenile. 18 U.S.C. § 5001 (1994); cf. State v. Tidwell, 651 P.2d at 230-31 (Wash.Ct.App.1982) (describing federal transfer of juvenile cases to state courts where jurisdiction is concurrent). Minnesota’s referral statute echoes federal law, contemplating referral only for violations of “federal law or a law of another state.” Minn.Stat. § 260.015, subd. 5(a)(2) (1994). Under section 260.015, subd. 5(a)(1), a child may be adjudicated delinquent if the child “has violated any state or local law.” Under section 260.015, subd. 5(a)(2), a child may be adjudicated delinquent if the child has “violated a federal law * * * and [the] case has been referred to the juvenile court.” Under the plain and clear wording of this statute, a juvenile offender who violates federal law must be referred to Minnesota’s juvenile court. See Minn.Stat. § 645.08(1) (1994) (words and phrases construed according to common and approved meaning). Absent proper referral, the district court here had no authority to assume jurisdiction over J.J.T.