Contrary to your above statement, typically you do not have to attend the court date to have the attorney appointed (when it's a low income/court appointed defense counsel being appointed to you). In most states, and I assume it is the same or similar in California, you need to contact the court clerk, they will have a form for you to fill out establishing your income and your eligibility for a court appointed defense counsel. Once that form is filled out and filed, the clerk will typically appoint you the next attorney or law firm on their rotating list. You can then contact or meet up with that attorney, who is now your attorney, and they can attend the hearing for you .... most likely. I say most likely because in some criminal actions you are required to appear for the hearing, in person, regardless of whether you have an attorney or not. So, call the clerk, explain the situation, see if they can appoint an attorney, then talk with your appointed attorney, then do what you're required to do. And next time.....don't screw up and end up charged with a crime.
In some cases, even a public defender or attorney can not represent you without you being present. Go to court as a walk-in or call and put yourself on calendar (depending on jurisdiction) as soon as possible and see if you can reschedule your court date to a date/time you can make it. Some judges are ok with that, while others might tell you that you have no excuse for a no show.
I've never met a 9 year old that plays this game. How many 9 year olds should be expected to voice in on other mature threads? Gun control, abortion, politics in general. Almost everyone I've met on this game is 18+. That's not to say there are no minors playing this game but it is safe to say there are more adults playing this than children. That being said, I did say this was not about me in the disclaimer.
A misdemeanor is a class of crime. In my state (assuming California is similar) a misdemeanor is a crime punishable by less than one year of incarceration and a felony is a crime punishable by more than one year. So, misdemeanors are usually traffic related stuff like drunk driving, reckless driving, and less violent crimes like low level assault, shoplifting, etc.
Here's what you do: I will assume that your hypothetical person is unable to attend court because they are heavily involved in a LB strip. As everyone (including the judge) knows. KAW > RL So you draft up a letter detailing the strip, the people assisting (aka witnesses). Attach screenshots, signatures from those involved, and a box of the finest holiday ham and cheese kit you can find. Have your lawyer deliver this to the judge and surely he will pardon your absence. Let me know if this helps. *on a side note, I got out of jury duty once by flapping my arms like a bird and shouting "kaw, kaw" as I flapped my way out of the courtroom.
Not really sure JV but I would probably talk to someone who has extensive legal backround like a lawyer or judge someone like that who would know the law at question