STATE IN INTEREST OF N.H.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Frank J. Ducoat , Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause for appellant State of New Jersey ( Carolyn A. Murray , Acting Essex County Prosecutor, attorney).

Matthew Astore , Assistant Deputy Public Defender, argued the cause for respondent N.H. ( Joseph E. Krakora , Public Defender, attorney).

Laura A. Cohen argued the cause for amici curiae American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Foundation, Advocates for Children of New Jersey, Campaign for Youth Justice, National Juvenile Defender Center, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Northeast Juvenile Defender Center and Rutgers Law School Children's Justice Clinic (Rutgers Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic and Rutgers Constitutional Litigation Clinic, attorneys; Ms. Cohen, Ronald K. Chen , Trenton, Alexander R. Shalom , and Rebecca J. Livengood , on the brief).