In re L. M.

Appellant was tried and convicted as a juvenile for smoking on a Metrobus in violation of D.C.Code 1978 Supp., § 44-216(a). Following her conviction, the trial judge placed appellant on probation. Since the inception of this matter, appellant has maintained that the disposition of her case under the juvenile delinquency statutes denies her equal protection because it allows the imposition of “harsher” penalties than the maximum fifty dollar fine applicable to adults convicted under § 44-216.1 In addition to this equal protection claim, appellant also argues that the trial court should have…