Orlan Nelson v. Trinity Medical Center

Taylor W. and Levi C., the minors in these two cases which were consolidated for briefing and oral argument, were adjudicated under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-247(1) (Cum. Supp. 2006) (misdemeanor law violation). both Taylor and Levi were "committed" by the separate juvenile court of Lancaster County into the custody of the Office of Juvenile Services (OJS), an office of the Department of Health and Human Services (collectively DHHS). The "commitment" was for purposes of an evaluation pending the disposition of petitions filed against each juvenile. We interpret the juvenile courts use of the word "committed" to mean "placed" in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-413(1) (Reissue 2004), which provides that a court may "place a juvenile" with OJS or the Department of Health and Human Services for "an evaluation to aid the court in the disposition." In addition to ordering the evaluations, the juvenile court further ordered that both Taylor and Levi be detained at the Lancaster County Youth Services Center for purposes of their respective evaluations.