K. M. v. State

PEARSON, Judge.

The controlling question on this appeal is whether or not a juvenile judge may appoint a referee to conduct a trial of a juvenile upon the charge that the juvenile is a delinquent. The State suggests that the authority for such a procedure rests in Chapter 20808, Laws of Florida, 1941, where authorization of a referee who is an official or employee of the juvenile court is enunciated. There is a distinct question as to whether this enactment is still in effect. See Chapter 71-29, sections 2 and 3, Laws of Florida, 1971. However, we do not find it necessary to decide that…