Daughter caught at school w/ a bud of marijuana in her backpack, it's her first offense. Whats the best way to plea?

The best response this early into the process is to plea not guilty and wait and see what options are available to her and what ramifications a juvenile delinquent conviction will have on her for school purposes. Don't feel pressured to resolve this today. Don't make a decision until you have been well informed. Plea not guilty today and then get with an attorney (or public defender) and figure out your/her best options. Hope this helps - and good luck.

Never concede guilt at the first appearance. There may be defenses to the conduct which only a lawyer would be aware of. Plead not guilty and get her a lawyer.

She should not enter a guilty plea today, and preferably she shouldn't enter any plea at all. You should ask for a continuance so you can speak with an attorney experienced in juvenile defense. Searches by police or school officials on school grounds are judged by a somewhat different standard than those that occur outside of a school building. It will be important to assess whether the search of the backpack was lawful. Juvenile adjudications, even for minor offenses, can have a serious impact on a young person. It is important that you and your daughter are fully aware of the consequences that she might face, both immediately and in the future.

You need to hire an attorney. There may be issues that you are not aware of that could have am impact on the child. The cost of an attorney outweigh the risks to the child. Do not just go to court and take the das offer.