§ 354 Minor Hearing Continuance Rules

• •If a kid isn't in custody, the court can delay a hearing for up to 10 extra days if an important witness isn't there but will be soon.
• •This delay is only allowed if the court thinks the witness is really needed and will show up in those 10 days.
• •If the kid is Native American, the court can't just say an expert witness isn't available if they didn't try hard enough to find one on time.

A court hearing about a kid's future is scheduled, but the kid's teacher, who knows a lot about the kid, is sick and can't come. The teacher says she can come in 8 days.

The court can wait up to 10 extra days to have the hearing so the teacher can be there and share important info. But if the kid is Native American and the court didn't try hard to get an expert on Native American culture on time, they can't just say that expert isn't available.