California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Parker, C068510 (Cal. App. 2014):
a juvenile court proceeding, during the testimony of the prosecuting witness. Only one of those support persons may accompany the witness to the witness stand, although the other may remain in the courtroom during the witness' testimony. . . ." The statute requires a showing of necessity only if the support person is also a trial witness. ( 868.5, subd. (b) [requires evidence that the person's support is desired by and will be helpful to the prosecuting witness].) "Absent improper interference by the support person . . . no decision supports the proposition that . . . the support person's mere presence infringes [the defendant's] due process and confrontation clause rights." (People v. Myles (2012) 53 Cal.4th 1181, 1214 (Myles).)
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