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
News & Commentary: Guest Interview podcast on The Imprint, Youth & Family News
Engaging the Family: Placement Matters
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)
Court Improvement: Reasonable Efforts and the Adoption and Safe Families Act
Court Improvement: The Americans With Disabilities Act and Juvenile Dependency Court
The Indian Child Welfare Act: Active Efforts and The Futility Doctrine
Court Improvement: A Few Questions That Can Change Everything
Court Improvement: Some Reflections on the Representation of Children in Juvenile Court: A View From The Bench
The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Engage Your Community Around Your Most Vulnerable Children: Hold An Infant’s Conference
Court Improvement: The Appellate Process and Unacceptable Delays
Court Improvement: The Pandemic, Technology, and the Juvenile Dependency Court
Court Improvement: Opinion: At-risk infants need our attention now more than ever
Court Improvement: Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Removal
New Video: County Touchpoints in Access to MAT in Juvenile Court
Court Improvement: Juvenile Dependency Court, Opioid
Addiction, And Reasonable Efforts
Court Improvement: Timely Adoptions: An Ignored Issue in Child Welfare
Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence and Reasonable Efforts in Juvenile Dependency Court
Court Improvement: Reasonable Efforts: Let’s Raise the Bar
Court Improvement: The Family First Prevention Act of 2018
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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