Juvenile justice is a complex and ever-evolving area of law, policy, and practice. Professionals working with and on behalf of children in delinquency cases require specialized skills, education, and training. Furthermore, children in these cases face potentially severe and enduring consequences as a result of involvement with the juvenile justice system. Juvenile defense attorneys are of critical importance ensuring that juveniles receive the care, treatment, and guidance upon which the juvenile court system is premised.

To promote competent legal representation of children in delinquency court, California Rule of Court 5.663 requires 12 hours of training for attorneys in juvenile justice proceedings. “In Defense of Juveniles” complies with this requirement, providing instruction from a faculty of esteemed and experienced professionals on a broad scope of important topics. Participants will gain foundational knowledge about the purpose of the juvenile court as well as California delinquency statutes, case law, and general court procedure. This training program will explore the duties and responsibilities of counsel for children and how these apply in various circumstances and stages of representation including pre-adjudication and post-disposition and when there is risk of transfer to adult court. The program will examine the most up to date research on adolescent brain development and offer strategies for effectively interviewing and counseling adolescents. Presenters will share information related to trauma, mental health, multi-system involvement, racial bias, and other circumstances presenting challenges for youth in order to promote research-based and culturally competent representation.

A key aspect of the juvenile justice system is the multi-disciplinary nature of the process. Therefore, sessions within this program offer training on topics relevant to the work of child welfare agencies and probation departments as well as attorneys and judges.

Upcoming Webinars:

Thursday, November 12, 2020, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT
Introduction to Juvenile Court and the Role of the Juvenile Defender
Presenters: Hon. Roger Chan & Jo Pastore, JD

This session provides participants with an overview of the juvenile court and its purpose, highlighting key points in the evolution of delinquency philosophy and procedure from its origin until today.  The session will also explore the specialized role of juvenile defense counsel and the duties and core ethical obligations in the representation of juveniles. Presenters will walk through the flow of a typical delinquency case as it enters and moves through the juvenile court, providing a detailed overview of key hearings and other critical stages. Commonly used terminology will be defined and recent case law and legislation will be highlighted. Presenters will lead an interactive exploration of the concepts of zealous advocacy and client-directed representation and hypotheticals will be used to illustrate the unique role of juvenile defense counsel.

MCLE: The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider and this event has been approved for 1 hour of general MCLE credit and 1 hour of legal ethics MCLE credit.

STC: We are seeking approval as STC for probation professionals. We encourage probation professionals in attendance to complete a Work-Related Education (WRE) application to their department, asking them to authorize STC credit for their attendance and participation.

BBS CE: The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC), provider number 58804, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor continuing education for licensees of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). Introduction to Juvenile Court and the Role of the Juvenile Defender, provided by the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law, maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

Registration/Refund/Cancellation Policy. This program is provided free by the Judicial Council of California Center for Families, Children & the Courts. Because no fees are charged to participants, the program does not require a refund policy. Those who register for the program and later find they cannot attend are asked only to notify Elisa Weichel at eweichel@sandiego.edu prior to the training date.

Grievances. For grievance information contact Marymichael Smrdeli, Marymichael.Smrdeli@jud.ca.gov or 415-865-4220.

Accessibility. The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts supports the Americans with Disabilities Act, which promotes public accessibility for persons with disabilities. If participants require special equipment or services, they may contact the Administrative Coordinator Safina Motiwala at Safina.Motiwala-T@jud.ca.gov or 415-865-7481.

To register for the November 12th webinar, please click the button below.

 REGISTRATION

Presenter Bios

The Honorable Roger Chan was appointed to the San Francisco Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown in 2016.  He has been assigned to the Unified Family Court since August 2017, where he presides over family, dependency, and juvenile justice trials, as well as the juvenile justice collaborative courts.  He is a member of the court’s Executive Committee and previously served as the Supervising Judge of the Traffic and Infractions Division.  Judge Chan is a member of the California Judges Association, CJA’s Juvenile Court Judges of California Executive Committee (Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Judicial Council Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee.   Prior to his appointment, Judge Chan represented children and youth in San Francisco and Alameda counties for 18 years, including co-founding and serving as Executive Director of East Bay Children’s Law Offices in Oakland.  Judge Chan has co-sponsored several bills into laws that improve how the juvenile court serves youth.  He is a proud alumnus of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law.   Judge Chan is honored to be the first openly LGBT Asian-American appointed to the San Francisco Superior Court.

Jo Pastore is an attorney practicing more than 30-years, primarily in the area of criminal law.  She spent over 27-years with the San Diego County Department of the Public Defender and engaged in all aspects of indigent defense.  She spent a significant amount of time in the Juvenile Delinquency Division.  She also managed the Writs & Appeal Division and filed numerous challenges that defined California Delinquency and Dependency Law.  She supervised the Delinquency Division and was responsible for new policy planning and implementation, including creating the Juvenile Behavioral Health Court. After leaving the Public Defender, she worked as In-House Counsel for a local business and recently became self-employed.  She currently handles criminal and special education cases and acts as a consultant.  She is an Adjunct Professor at California Western School of Law, her alma mater, where she has taught for over 15-years and is a board member for several non-profits.

January 22, 2021; 11 am to 1 pm PDT
Understanding and Working with the Juvenile Client
Presenters: Keith R. Cruise, PhD, MLS & Carly Baetz,  JD, PhD
Registration coming soon!

March 5, 2021; 11 am-1 pm PDT
Detention and Pre-adjudication Practice
Presenters: Sue Burrell, JD; Dorothy Daniels, JD;  Maureen Pacheco, JD & Arthur Bowie, JD
Registration coming soon!

April 15, 2021; 11 am-1 pm PST
Critical Challenges: Confessions, Strikes, and Transfer
Presenter: Robert Lu, JD
Registration coming soon!

May 7, 2021; 11 am-1 pm PST
Disposition, Post-Disposition, and Probation
Presenters: Jennifer Cannady, JD and Brian Richart
Registration Coming Soon!

June 11, 2021; 11 am -1 pm PST
Ethical Duties and Best Practices in Working with Youth: Considerations Related to Culture, Race, and Special Circumstances
Presenters: Hon. Marian Gaston, Christian Bijoux
Registration Coming Soon!

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