State of Louisiana in the Interest of J.M.

JOHNSON, Chief Justice.

|,We granted this writ application to determine whether the charges against a juvenile must be dismissed where an adjudication hearing was not commenced within ninety days of an answer hearing pursuant to Article 877 of the Louisiana Children’s Code. The state argues the ninety-day period is suspended when it enters a nolle prosequi of the original charges and refiles the charges against the juvenile, since the ninety-day period begins to run only when the defendant answers the petition. We disagree.

For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the court of appeal ruling,…