“It must be understood that the best interests of a child are to find a safe, nurturing and permanent home for the child as soon as possible. Even with the heroic efforts of social workers and judges, it is not possible to predict the future with 100% accuracy. Temporary placement of children is damaging, although health and safety concerns often require it. A decision not to ‘decide’ is in reality a potentially damaging decision with long term implications for the child. Judicial officers must be leaders in ensuring that the safeguards provided for in the child protection process allow for the best decisions to be made within the realm of existing knowledge, and acknowledge that making decisions in these cases is not for the faint of heart.”
—The Honorable Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.)
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Welcome to
the Juvenile Court Judges Corner, a website started by Judge Leonard
Edwards (ret.) in a continuing effort to benefit judges and other
professionals working in the juvenile court. This website contains
information about Judge Edwards, his publications, presentations,
and videos all of which are devoted to improving outcomes for children
and families who appear in juvenile and family courts.
Recent Postings in Judge Edwards’s Blog
Juvenile Justice: Sealing Juvenile Court Records: Are Our Children Receiving Unequal Treatment by the State Department of Justice?
News & Commentary: Turning Pages: Insights and Reflections on The Child Catcher by Andrew Bridge
News & Commentary: Book Review: The Child Catcher
Enhanced Resource Guidelines (ERG) Podcast: Reasonable Efforts: A Judicial Perspective
Juvenile Justice: The Super Predator Story
The Indian Child Welfare Act: Indian Boarding Schools
Court Improvement: Legal Language and the Juvenile Dependency System
Court Improvement: Two Significant Legislative Changes in Dependency Law
The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Some Thoughts About Judicial
Responsibilities
Court Improvement: The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge Regarding the Education of Children In Juvenile Court
Working with Foreign Countries: The State of Juvenile Justice (by Jay D. Blitzman, used with permission)
The Indian Child Welfare Act (video): Thoughts on the Importance of ICWA Active Efforts
The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: The Trauma of Removal
Working with Foreign Countries: Sealing Juvenile Records: The Importance of a Clean Slate [podcast 19:30]
Court Improvement: The Trauma of Removal
News & Commentary/CASA: Books Recommended for Juvenile Court Judges: and Others
Court Improvement: Is the Sealing of Juvenile Records Working in Your Court?
Court Improvement: Record Sealing: Its Importance for Rehabilitation
Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth: Mentor-Tutor Connection: A Program For Every Community
The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Opinion: Kids in Common provides strong voice for county children
Court Improvement: Comments on “Confronting Indeterminacy and Bias in Child Protection Law” by Josh Gupta-Kagan
Court Improvement: Mentors For Parents: A Best Practice In Dependency Proceedings
Engaging the Family: My Experience With Orphanages
Court Improvement: Judicial Issues in Child Maltreatment
News & Commentary: Reasonable Efforts, 2nd Edition, Book Announcement
Court Improvement: Judicial Issues in Child Maltreatment
Court Improvement and Engaging the Family: Placement Matters
News & Commentary: Guest Interview podcast on The Imprint, Youth & Family News
Court Improvement: Congregate Care and Placement Decisions in Juvenile Court Proceedings
NEW 2nd Edition of Groundbreaking Book for Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Significant Cases: Summary of California appellate cases dealing with Reasonable Efforts (1/2022)
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REASONABLE EFFORTS: A Judicial Perspective
“This book builds upon Judge Edwards’ first edition. Among other things, it includes discussions of over 100 new cases, significant additions to the section on the ICWA, new sections on placement with relatives and engaging fathers, best practices for attorneys, the relationship between judges and directors of social services, a summary of recent national trends from national experts, three new appendices, and a discussion on one way to change court practice regarding judicial attention to reasonable efforts.
“This critical and informative resource belongs on every juvenile court judge’s bench, in every juvenile court attorney’s office, and must be included in all social worker training. The ultimate beneficiaries will be the vulnerable children and their families that our system is designed to serve.”
—Judge Michael Nash (ret.)
Executive Director
Los Angeles Office of Child Protection |
[2014 First Edition remains available for a limited time] |
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