Dui Hua, China’s Supreme Court Hold 4th Juvenile Justice Exchange

Judge Edwards was the principal participant on the US side when the Dui Hua Foundation held its fourth US-China juvenile justice exchange with the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) in Beijing on October 13–14, 2014. Records sealing was the focus of the exchange.
October 24, 2014,  Dui Hua Foundation website

New Groundbreaking Book for Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Reasonable Efforts: A Judicial Perspective (2014, hardcover, 461 pages)
by Judge Leonard Edwards, publication made possible by the generous support of the Casey Family Programs and Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.

From the Foreword by the Hon. Michael Nash, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court:

“… Two goals of this book are to encourage judges and attorneys to be more assertive in their oversight of social service agencies and to examine the ‘reasonable efforts’ issue earlier in the case. …

“As juvenile court judges, we must find that reasonable efforts have been made to prevent the removal of children from their families, that reasonable efforts have been made to give families a meaningful opportunity to reunify after the children have been removed, and that reasonable efforts have been made to secure permanency for children. These findings must be made within the context of every case, taking into consideration the individual strengths and needs of every family and its members. The issues are varied and often complex. …

“For decades, Judge Edwards has been the conscience and the voice for juvenile court judges nationwide. He has helped define and shape our role more than any other juvenile court judge ever. Once again he has raised his voice to emphasize the importance of this part of our role in more depth than has ever been done before. State by state Judge Edwards reviews the statutory scheme on reasonable efforts, the existing case law on the subject and offers commentary from judges and other child welfare system stakeholders. …”

Contents include:

1. Legislative History
2. Federal Law and Child Welfare
3. What is the Definition of Reasonable Efforts
4. Aggravated Circumstances: When are Reasonable Efforts Unnecessary?
5. The Indian Child Welfare Act and Active Efforts
6. State Responses to the Reasonable Efforts Issue
7. Recurring Factual Situations in the Trial Courts
8. Challenges to Effective Use of the Reasonable Efforts Findings—Attorneys Representing Parents and Children
9. Challenges to Effective Use of the Reasonable Efforts Findings—Judges
10. Recommended Judicial Strategies
11. Conclusion

Appendices—State-by-state analysis of statutes, case law, and commentary, forms, documents, benchcards, and more

For eBook version, download:
.mobi file—can be opened in Kindle, including Kindle reader for PC.	.epub file—can be opened in various eBook readers, including iBooks on iPad, and Adobe Digital Editions reader for PC.	.pdf file—can be opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader and similar readers.

Juvenile and family court judges and attorneys may request a hardcopy of the book by writing to:

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Attention: Cheryl Davidek
P.O. Box 8970
Reno, NV 89507

There is no charge for the book, but there will be a small charge for shipping and handling.

More on the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project

Local judge teaches lesson in civil rights at Los Altos Rotary Club
July 30, 2014, Los Altos Town Crier

Just Published on The Judges’ Page—Family Drug Treatment Courts Articles

Just published—Over 20 articles concerning Family Drug Treatment Courts
Summer 2014, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

The Judges’ Page Newsletter of the National CASA Association has just published about 20 articles on Family Drug Treatment Courts. I organized the articles, worked with the authors, and contributed two articles of my own.

Recalling the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project

Mississippi Summer of 1964: A Santa Clara County judge recalls voting rights struggle
6/19/ 2014,  San Jose Mercury News

Dependency Advocacy Center in Santa Clara

This short video describes the Mentor Parent Program, a unique service provided by the Dependency Advocacy Center in Santa Clara County in its representation of parents in juvenile dependency cases.

Judicial Leadership in the Juvenile Court

Have you ever wondered why some courts work so well and others do not? Or why some communities seem to respond to delinquent youth more effectively than others? Chances are that the individual juvenile court judge or judges are responsible for the successes. Judicial leadership in the juvenile court can produce remarkably positive results both in and out of the courtroom…post continues on the National Council on Crime and Delinquency blog

Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act

The video was developed by the Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts/Court Improvement Program in consultation with the National Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues and the National Resource Center for Tribes as an ICWA educational resource for judges, courts, child welfare, and judicial educators. It is the culmination of the ongoing collaboration between the Mississippi Courts, Child Welfare Agency, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and various National Resource Centers, which specifically focus their expertise on educating non tribal entities on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and other issues related to Native American values.

Judge Edwards speaks to the Family Court Bar in Tokyo, Japan: May 20, 2013

Op-ed: Suspensions hurt kids, schools and don’t improve safety

Op-ed: Suspensions hurt kids, schools and don’t improve safety
1/25/2013, San Jose Mercury News

Related article: Out-of-School Suspension and Expulsion
American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on School Health Policy Statement

Related video clip: Ramiro Rubalcaba addressing the California Statewide Hearing on Understanding the School Discipline Issue, Sept. 12, 2012, sponsored by California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, and The California Endowment (Health Happens Here in Schools)

Ethics and the Juvenile Court Judge – Interview with Judge Leonard Edwards

An interview by a representative of the American Bar Association’s Child Law Practice. In it Judge Edwards explains why he wrote his most recent book, “The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics.”

Working With Juvenile Court Judges in Morocco

A report on my recent trip to Morocco to train juvenile court judges, published in the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (PDF version for print)

BOOK for Juvenile and Family Court Judges

THE ROLE OF THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE: PRACTICE AND ETHICS
by Judge Leonard Edwards, Retired
Available from caljudges.org
[See a brief video interview on this topic. Also reviewed by Hon. Janice M. Rosa (ret.).]

BOOK REVIEW by Judge Margaret Henry

Juvenile Court is different and so are the ethics that apply to the judges who sit in Juvenile Court. I recall at an ethics training by CJER early in my Juvenile Court judicial career the instructor saying, “A judge may not accept a gift from any party, ever. No exceptions.” My hand shot up. She looked at me and repeated: “No exceptions.” I said: “What about a picture from an 8 year old autistic boy who is a dependent appearing in front of me?” She stared at me for a few seconds, and then said, “OK. There is an exception.”

There was nothing in writing at that time—more particularly, nothing in Judge David M. Rothman’s California Judicial Conduct Handbook that supported the position of an exception. Judge Rothman’s book is, of course, the gold standard of judicial ethics books. As comprehensive as it is, it does not detail the distinctions in the role of the Juvenile Court judge.

Judge Edwards’ new book explains the unique role of the Juvenile Court judge in the context of discussions of ethics. The book takes a very different approach, in structure and content, from California Judicial Conduct Handbook. Judge Edwards’ book uses hypothetical scenarios that Juvenile Court judges may encounter in their work on the bench, identifies practice and ethical issues, and proposes approaches, offering advice and solutions to the judicial officer. The focus is on practical, ethical issues that the Juvenile Court judicial officer encounters.

The book is well indexed and organized. It is divided into three parts: Running the Juvenile Court, Ex Parte Communications, and Working Off the Bench. Each has approximately 30 sections with several scenarios. The Table of Contents can be used to find an exact discussion of an issue facing a Juvenile Court judge.

The author of this book explains the unique role of the Juvenile Court judge and that judges must not shy away from the responsibilities that come with the role. The Introduction to the book should be mandatory reading for all new judges to the Juvenile Court. Experienced juvenile judges will read the Introduction and think, “Exactly. That explains the difference in our role.”

This is a book for specialists—Juvenile Court judges. It should be kept in easy reach of each of us in chambers, right next to the California Judicial Conduct Handbook.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

[Related material available under VIDEO CLIPS]

ADR in Juvenile Dependency Cases
Summer 2013, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Moving Cases from Juvenile to Family Court: How Mediation Can Help
536 UC Davis Journal of Juvenile Law & Policy Vol. 16:2 (Summer 2012)

Guidelines for Child Protection Mediation
2012, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Child Protection Mediation – A 25-Year Perspective
January 2009, Family Court Review

Effective Child Protection Mediation and Domestic Violence
October, 2008, Judge’s Page Newsletter, National CASA Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Dependency Mediation in Child Protection Cases
Summer 2008, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Comments on the Miller Commission Report: A California Perspective
Summer 2007, vol 27, no 4, Pace Law Review, 101

The Transition to Group Decision Making in Child Protection Cases: Obtaining Better Results for Children and Families
Winter 2007, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Mediation Miracle
Spring 2006, California Courts Review

Mediation in Child Protection Cases
2004, Journal of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts

Mediation in Juvenile Dependency Court: Multiple Perspectives
Fall 2002, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Domestic Violence and Mediation: A Dialogue

Part 1: A COMMENT ON WILLIAM J. HOWE AND HUGH MCISAAC’S ARTICLE “FINDING THE BALANCE” PUBLISHED IN THE JANUARY 2008 ISSUE OF FAMILY COURT REVIEW by Hon. Leonard Edwards, Steve Baron, and George Ferrick
This article is a response to an article written by William Howe and Hugh McIsaac that questions their recommendations that court-based mediation not be used when certain types of persons appear in court. We assert that it will be very difficult for the court to identify these people. Further, we argue that mediation practice has advanced so far that even these persons (those with serious issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health) should be given an opportunity to participate in mediation before being referred to the adversarial court process.

Part 2: RESPONSE by William J. Howe and Hugh McIsaac
This is a response to “A Comment on William J. Howe and Hugh McIsaac’s Article ‘Finding the Balance’

Part 3:  SURREPLY by Hon. Leonard Edwards, Steve Baron, and George Ferrick
This is a follow-up to our previous “Comment” responding to an article by William How and Hugh McIsaac.

CASA

[Related material available under VIDEO CLIPS]

An interview by a representative of the American Bar Association’s Child Law Practice. In it Judge Edwards explains why he wrote his book, “The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics.”

Ethical Issues Involving Juvenile Court Judges and CASA
(PowerPoint presentation file)
Judge Leonard Edwards and Cory Pohley, Director, California CASA
December 3, 2013, delivered at Beyond the Bench, Anaheim, CA

CASA Programs and Judicial Ethics
July 2013, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

Books Every CASA Library Should Have

The Judicial Role in Creating and Supporting CASA/GAL Programs

Starting a CASA Program in Israel
Winter 2011, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Why is CASA So Important For Our Juvenile Courts?
Summer 2009, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Court Improvement in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: A Historical Perspective
March 2011, Judge’s Page Newsletter, National CASA Association

Effective Child Protection Mediation and Domestic Violence
October, 2008, Judge’s Page Newsletter, National CASA Association

CASA Volunteers and the Education of Foster Children
June 2005, Judge’s Page Newsletter, National CASA Association

Video: Improving Outcomes for Children in Child Protection Cases: The Role of the Child Advocate

Court Improvement

Comments on “Confronting Indeterminacy and Bias in Child Protection Law” by Josh Gupta-Kagan
November 2022, Stanford Law & Policy Review, Vol 33, Issue 2, Pages 1-8

Mentors For Parents: A Best Practice In Dependency Proceedings
Fall 2022, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Judicial Issues in Child Maltreatment
Edwards, L.P., Wu, C.N. (2022). Judicial Issues in Child Maltreatment. pp 653–677 In: Krugman, R.D., Korbin, J.E. (eds) Handbook of Child Maltreatment. Child Maltreatment, vol 14.

Placement Matters
Spring 2022, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Congregate Care and Placement Decisions in Juvenile Court Proceedings
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 44 No 01 Spring 2022

Reasonable Efforts and the Adoption and Safe Families Act
Winter 2022, Family Integrity & Justice Quarterly, a peer reviewed publication of The Family Integrity & Justice Works (FIJ Works)

Summary of California appellate cases dealing with Reasonable Efforts (1/2022)

The Americans With Disabilities Act and Juvenile Dependency Court
Winter 2022, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Due Diligence And Family Finding
Fall 2021, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

A Few Questions That Can Change Everything
Summer 2021, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

A Few Questions That Can Change Everything
Summer 2021, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Some Reflections on the Representation of Children in Juvenile Court: A View From The Bench
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 43 No 02 Summer 2021

The Appellate Process and Unacceptable Delays
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 43 No 01 Spring 2021

The Pandemic, Technology, and the Juvenile Dependency Court
Winter 2021, The Bench the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Opinion: At-risk infants need our attention now more than ever
Opinion Section, Wednesday, 1/13/2021, The Mercury News

The Urgency of Placing Children with Relatives
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 42 No 04 Winter 2020

Reasonable Efforts To Prevent Removal
Fall 2020, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Dependency Court, Opioid Addiction, And Reasonable Efforts
Summer 2020, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Timely Adoptions: An Ignored Issue in Child Welfare
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 42 No 02 Summer 2020

Domestic Violence and Reasonable Efforts in Juvenile Dependency Court
Spring 2020, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Reasonable Efforts: Let’s Raise the Bar
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 42 No 01 Spring 2020

The Family First Prevention Act of 2018
Winter 2020, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Should Extend to Age 25
Opinion Section, Tuesday, 12/03/2019 Page A06, The Mercury News

Family Time Practice Guide: A Guide to Providing Appropriate Family Time for Children in Foster Care
May 2019, A Project of the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children and the J4C Court Improvement Initiative, Forward by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.)

Corporal Punishment and The Law
Spring 2019, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Overcoming Barriers to Making Meaningful Reasonable Efforts Findings
December–January 2019, Child Law Practice Today, publication of the ABA Center on Children and the Law

Ignoring Reasonable Efforts: How Courts Fail to Promote Prevention
December 5, 2018, The Chronicle of Social Change—Children and Youth, Front and Center

An Update On The Case Of Katie A V Bonta: Services For Children With Mental Health Challenges And Suggestions How Judges Can Assist The Service Delivery Process
Fall 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Relative Placement: The Best Answer for Our Foster Care System
Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Vol 69 No 3
2018 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

An Instructive Dependency Case Involving Reasonable Efforts
Summer 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Effective Use of the Reasonable Efforts Finding: Challenges Facing Attorneys
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 40 No 03 May/Jun 2018

The History of “Beyond the Bench”
Spring 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Opinion: How Santa Clara County can improve children’s lives
February 25, 2018, The San Jose Mercury News

Relative Placement: The Best Answer for Our Foster Care System
Winter 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Reasonable Efforts and Timely Adoptions
Fall 2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Download PowerPoint file: Judicial Oversight—The Role of Judges in Congregate Care Reform, slide presentation by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.), Santa Clara County, California and Judge Michael Nash (ret.), Los Angeles County, California

How To Improve Outcomes For Abused And Neglected Children: Engaging Relatives Early
Summer 2016, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Improving State Court-Tribal Court Relations
Summer 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Record Sealing Doesn’t Work: Here’s How to Fix
Winter 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner, Mental Health Issues in Dependency Court
Fall 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner, Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Removal: An Important New Case
Summer 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner, Parental Visitation in Child Protection Cases
Winter 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Working with Your Director of Children’s Services
Winter 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

ADR in Juvenile Dependency Cases
Summer 2013, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Domestic Violence & Reasonable Efforts At The Detention Hearing
Winter 2013, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Record Sealing: The Q&A of Policy and Practice
Oct 18, 2012, Dui Hua Human Rights Journal

Establishing Paternity Promptly in Juvenile Dependency Court
Autumn 2012, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Representation of Parents and Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Importance of Early Appointment
Summer 2012, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Representation of Parents and Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Importance of Early Appointment
Spring 2012, Juvenile Family Court Journal 

Reasonable Efforts
Summer 2011, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Intake Decisions and the Juvenile Court System
Spring 2011, Juvenile and Family Justice Today

Court Improvement in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: A Historical Perspective
November 2011, National CASA Association

Interim Hearings
Autumn 2009, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Blue Ribbon Commission (We’ve Come a Long Way Baby)
Autumn 2008, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Judicial Rotation–One Judge-One Family
Spring 2008, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Juvenile Court Corner: Court Improvement and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Winter 2008, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Comments on the Miller Commission Report: A California Perspective
Summer 2007, vol 27, no 4, Pace Law Review, 101

Judicial Oversight of Parental Visitation in Family Reunification Cases
Summer 2003, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Improving Juvenile Dependency Courts: 23 Steps
November 1997, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Corporal Punishment and the Legal System
1996, 36 Santa Clara L. Rev. 983

Who Speaks for the Child?
1995, 2 University of Chicago Roundtable 68

Appendix C: Improving Implementation of the Federal Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980
1989

Dealing with Parent and Child in Serious Abuse Cases
August 1983,  Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Significance of Juvenile Records
February 1979,  Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence and Reasonable Efforts in Juvenile Dependency Court
Spring 2020, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Santa Clara County Greenbook Story: From Theory to Transformation
Judge Leonard Edwards (Ret.) and Judge Katherine Lucero
Winter 2019, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Useful Link: The Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council

Domestic Violence & Reasonable Efforts At The Detention Hearing
Winter 2013, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

“The Greenbook”
This booklet, “Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment: Guidelines for Policy and Practice,” (known as “The Greenbook”) was published by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.  It addresses the best practices for dealing with child abuse and neglect cases when issues of domestic violence are present.  The chapter on the courts (pages 90-112) are particularly relevant to juvenile and family court judges

Effective Child Protection Mediation and Domestic Violence
October 2008, Judge’s Page Newsletter, National CASA Association

Judicial Oversight of Parental Visitation in Family Reunification Cases
Summer 2003, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Reducing Family Violence: The Role of the Family Violence Council
1992

Domestic Violence and Mediation: A Dialogue

Part 1: A COMMENT ON WILLIAM J. HOWE AND HUGH MCISAAC’S ARTICLE “FINDING THE BALANCE” PUBLISHED IN THE JANUARY 2008 ISSUE OF FAMILY COURT REVIEW by Hon. Leonard Edwards, Steve Baron, and George Ferrick
This article is a response to an article written by William Howe and Hugh McIsaac that questions their recommendations that court-based mediation not be used when certain types of persons appear in court. We assert that it will be very difficult for the court to identify these people. Further, we argue that mediation practice has advanced so far that even these persons (those with serious issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health) should be given an opportunity to participate in mediation before being referred to the adversarial court process.

Part 2: RESPONSE by William J. Howe and Hugh McIsaac
This is a response to “A Comment on William J. Howe and Hugh McIsaac’s Article ‘Finding the Balance’

Part 3:  SURREPLY by Hon. Leonard Edwards, Steve Baron, and George Ferrick
This is a follow-up to our previous “Comment” responding to an article by William How and Hugh McIsaac.

Drug & Other Specialty Courts

[Related material available under VIDEO CLIPS]

Inside the secret court that helps victims of drug abuse keep their families together, article on the London Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC), which has been pioneering a new approach to child protection cases in which one or both parents have drug or alcohol problems.

News: Family Drug and Alcohol Court to be nationwide
Feb. 18, 2015, Family Law Week, UK

Family Drug Courts: A Best Practice That Works
March 2015, California Collaborative Justice Courts Foundation website

Just published—Over 20 articles concerning Family Drug Treatment Courts
Summer 2014, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

Ethical Issues in the Family Drug Treatment Court
Winter 2013, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Sanctions in Family Drug Treatment Courts
Winter 2010, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Judicial Perspectives on Family Drug Treatment Courts
Summer 2005, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Juvenile Mental Health Court: Rationale and Protocols
Fall 2001, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Engaging the Family

My Experience With Orphanages
Summer 2022, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Placement Matters
Spring 2022, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Urgency of Placing Children with Relatives
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 42 No 04 Winter 2020

Relative Placement: The Best Answer for Our Foster Care System
Juvenile and Family Court Journal , Vol 69 No 3
2018 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Video: Reluctant Mother: a courtroom dramatization

Relative Placement: The Best Answer for Our Foster Care System
Winter 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

How To Improve Outcomes For Abused And Neglected Children: Engaging Relatives Early
Summer 2016, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Placing Children with Relatives
Autumn 2011, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Relative Placement in Child Protective Cases: A Judicial Perspective
Spring 2010, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Engaging Fathers in the Child Protection Process: The Judicial Role
Spring 2009, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Juvenile Court Corner: Engaging Fathers in the Child Custody Process
Winter 2009, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Family Finding From a Judicial Perspective
October 2008, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

The Transition to Group Decision Making in Child Protection Cases: Obtaining Better Results for Children and Families
Winter 2007, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Finding Foster Kids’ Families Must Become Our Mandate
April 14, 2005, The San Jose Mercury News

Attachment, Bonding, and Reciprocal Connectedness: Limitation of the Attachment Theory in the Juvenile and Family Court
2000, Journal of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC)

Family Court

Why Should Indian Children be Treated Differently?
The NACC Guardian, Vol 38 · No 06 (August 2016), a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children.

Attacks on implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) have recently been in the headlines. Several critics of the ICWA have stated that Indian Children should not be treated differently in child welfare and adoption proceedings.

Despite these attacks, there are compelling reasons why the ICWA should be fully implemented. This article outlines some of the reasons for full implementation and argues that there are important reasons why Native American children should receive special treatment in the courts.

Comments on the Miller Commission Report: A California Perspective
Summer 2007, vol 27, no 4, Pace Law Review, 101

The Relationship of Family and Juvenile Courts in Child Abuse Cases
Spring 1987, Santa Clara Law Review—Volume 27

The Indian Child Welfare Act

Active Efforts and The Futility Doctrine
Winter 2021, Vol 43 No 04, The Guardian, National Association of Counsel for Children

Defining Active Efforts in the Indian Child Welfare Act
Jan/Feb 2019, Vol 41 No 01, The Guardian, National Association of Counsel for Children

Why Should Indian Children be Treated Differently?
Aug 2016, Vol 38 · No 06, The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children.

Improving State Court-Tribal Court Relations
Summer 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

“Active Efforts” and “Reasonable Efforts”: Do They Mean the Same Thing?
Spring 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth

Mentor-Tutor Connection: A Program For Every Community
Winter 2023, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Should Extend to Age 25
Opinion Section, Tuesday, 12/03/2019 Page A06, The Mercury News

An Update On The Case Of Katie A V Bonta: Services For Children With Mental Health Challenges And Suggestions How Judges Can Assist The Service Delivery Process
Fall 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Relative Placement: The Best Answer for Our Foster Care System
Winter 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Reasonable Efforts and Timely Adoptions
Fall 2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Children Of Incarcerated Mothers
Summer 2017, The Bench, the official publication of the California Judges Association
Children of incarcerated mothers do not fare well. As a community we should attempt to make it possible for these children to have more and better quality contact with their parents.

Download PowerPoint file: Judicial Oversight—The Role of Judges in Congregate Care Reform, slide presentation by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.), Santa Clara County, California Judge Michael Nash (ret.), Los Angeles County, California

County needs to help kids whose moms are in jail
Editorial by Leonard Edwards and Susan Eilenberg, who is a trustee of the San Jose Unified School District and member of the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women. They wrote this for theSan Jose Mercury News, February 3, 2017. (See the response.)

Juvenile Record Sealing: The Q&A of Policy and Practice
Oct 18, 2012, Dui Hua Human Rights Journal

Aging Out of Foster Care…And Into College
Spring 2009, Juvenile and Family Justice Today

Finding Foster Kids’ Families Must Become Our Mandate
April 14, 2005, The San Jose Mercury News

What’s Best For Children From Violent Homes?
February 16, 2001, The Charlotte Observer

Judicial Ethics

An interview by a representative of the American Bar Association’s Child Law Practice. In it Judge Edwards explains why he wrote his book, “The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics.”

The Hon. Janice M. Rosa (ret.) reviews Judge Edwards’ book The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics.
October 2014,  Family Court Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Ethical Problems Involving Judicial Fundraising
Spring 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

CASA Programs and Judicial Ethics
July 2013, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

Ethical Issues in the Family Drug Treatment Court
Winter 2013, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Ethical Challenges for the Juvenile Court Judge
Winter 2011, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Juvenile Court Judges of California

Juvenile Court Corner: The History of the Juvenile Court Judges of California: A Twenty Year Perspective
Spring 2009, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Protecting Children and Reuniting Families: History of Juvenile Dependency Court in Santa Clara County
January 2009, publication of the Bench & Bar Historical Society of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Superior Court Historical Committee

Juvenile Justice

Mentors Crucial to Curb Recidivism for Youths, published in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE), a publication covering juvenile justice and related issues nationally on a consistent, daily basis (also as downloadable PDF).
It has been said that all a child needs is one caring adult in order to become a success in life. When a child is removed from home because of parental abuse or neglect or the child’s delinquent behavior, often the best path to a successful life involves one caring adult who acts as a mentor and a guide. If this is true, it contains an important message for juvenile court judges and for the attorneys and other professionals who children meet.

Access Denied: A National Snapshot of States’ Failure to Protect Children’s Right to Counsel (May 2017)
A new publication of the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDL)

One Caring Adult
Winter  2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Arranging Your Courtroom to be a More Effective Judge
Spring 2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Download PowerPoint file: Judicial Oversight—The Role of Judges in Congregate Care Reform, slide presentation by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.), Santa Clara County, California Judge Michael Nash (ret.), Los Angeles County, California

Are Children Simply Small Adults?
Autumn 2013, The Juvenile Court Corner of The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Record Sealing: The Q&A of Policy and Practice
Oct 18, 2012, Dui Hua Human Rights Journal

The Case for Abolishing Fitness Hearings In Juvenile Court
17 Santa Clara Law Review 595 (1977)

A Study of Juvenile Record Sealing Practices in California
4 Pepperdine Law Review 543 (1976-1977)

Keynote Speeches

Remarks of Judge Leonard Edwards at the Presentation of the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., November 18, 2004

Representing Children and Parents in Court

The Effective Use of the Reasonable Efforts Finding: Challenges Facing Attorneys
The Guardian, a publication of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), Vol 40 No 03 May/Jun 2018

Representation of Parents and Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Importance of Early Appointment
Spring 2012, Juvenile and Family Court Journal (17 pages)

Representation of Parents and Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Importance of Early Appointment
Summer 2012, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association (3 pages)

Who Speaks for the Child?
1995, 2 University of Chicago Roundtable 68

A Comprehensive Approach to the Representation of Children: The Child Advocacy Coordinating Council
1993-194, 27 Family Law Quarterly 417

The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge

Mentor-Tutor Connection: A Program For Every Community
Winter 2023, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Opinion: Kids in Common provides strong voice for county children
January 18, 2023,  San Jose Mercury News

Engage Your Community Around Your Most Vulnerable Children: Hold An Infant’s Conference
Spring 2021, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: The Most Famous Juvenile Court Judge
Winter 2019, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Evolving Role of the Juvenile Court
Fall 2018, In SESSION, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)

Judicial Leadership in the Juvenile Court
November 4, 2013, National Council on Crime & Delinquency Blog

The Unique Role of the Juvenile Court Judge
This is the introduction to Judge Edwards most recent book, The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics.   While it focuses on California law, it is generally applicable to juvenile court judges in all states.
[See a brief video interview on this topic.]

Key Principles for Permanency Planning for Children
July 23, 2011, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)

Ethical Challenges for the Juvenile Court Judge
Winter 2011, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Some Thoughts on Judicial Leadership
Fall 2006, Juvenile and Family Justice Today

The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge Revisited
Winter 2005, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Juvenile Court and the Role of the Juvenile Court Judge
1992, Juvenile & Family Court Journal

Running the Juvenile Court

The Pandemic, Technology, and the Juvenile Dependency Court
Winter 2021, The Bench the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Working With Clients In Juvenile Court
Fall 2019, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Judges and Social Workers
Summer 2019, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Family Time Practice Guide: A Guide to Providing Appropriate Family Time for Children in Foster Care
May 2019, A Project of the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children and the J4C Court Improvement Initiative, Forward by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.)

Overcoming Barriers to Making Meaningful Reasonable Efforts Findings
December–January 2019, Child Law Practice Today, publication of the ABA Center on Children and the Law

Juvenile Court Corner: Reasonable Efforts and Timely Adoptions
Fall 2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Arranging Your Courtroom to be a More Effective Judge
Spring 2017, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Should Judges Ask Questions? The Enquiring Magistrate
Fall 2016, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Drug Exposed Infants: Perplexing Social and Legal Issues
(Graphic version of article)
Spring 2016, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Congregate Care for Children
Winter 2016, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Placement with a Non-Custodial Parent
Fall 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

“Active Efforts” and “Reasonable Efforts”: Do They Mean the Same Thing?
Spring 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Record Sealing Doesn’t Work: Here’s How to Fix
Winter 2015, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Removal: An Important New Case
Summer 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Court Corner: Parental Visitation in Child Protection Cases
Winter 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Working with Your Director of Children’s Services
Winter 2014, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Juvenile Record Sealing: The Q&A of Policy and Practice
Oct 18, 2012, Dui Hua Human Rights Journal

Establishing Paternity Promptly in Juvenile Dependency Court
Autmun 2012, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Moving Cases from Juvenile to Family Court: How Mediation Can Help
536 UC Davis Journal of Juvenile Law & Policy Vol. 16:2 (Summer 2012)

How to Tackle the Problems Involved When a Case Moves from Juvenile to Family Court
Spring 2012, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Representation of Parents and Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Importance of Early Appointment
Spring 2012,  Juvenile Family Court Journal 

Resasonable Efforts
Summer 2011, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Intake Decisions and the Juvenile Court System
Spring 2011, Juvenile and Family Justice Today

Psychotropic Medications
Spring 2011, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Intake Decisions and the Juvenile Court System
Autumn 2010, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Let’s End the Secrecy in Juvenile Court
Summer 2010, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Interim Hearings
Autumn 2009, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

The Impact of Judicial Behavior in Juvenile Court Proceedings
Winter 2009, Juvenile and Family Justice Today

Juvenile Court Corner: Judicial Rotation–One Judge-One Family
Spring 2008, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

Reasonable Efforts: A Judicial Perspective
October 2007, The Judges’ Page Newsletter, The National CASA Association

Achieving Timely Permanency in Child Protection Courts: The Importance of Frontloading the Court Process
Spring 2007, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

Confidentiality and the Juvenile and Family Courts
Winter 2004, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Relationship of Family and Juvenile Courts in Child Abuse Cases
Spring 1987, Santa Clara Law Review—Volume 27

Dealing with Parent and Child in Serious Abuse Cases
August 1983,  Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Role of the District Attorney in Juvenile Court: Is the Juvenile Court Becoming Just Like Adult Court?
1979, Juvenile and Family Court Journal

The Significance of Juvenile Records
February 1979,  Juvenile and Family Court Journal

A Study of Juvenile Record Sealing Practices in California
4 Pepperdine Law Review 543 (1976-1977)

The Defense Attorney at the Dispositional – the need for a social worker
December/January—1976–77, NLADA Briefcase

Significant Cases

Summary of California appellate cases dealing with Reasonable Efforts (1/2022)

An Instructive Dependency Case Involving Reasonable Efforts
Summer 2018, The Bench, the official magazine of the California Judges Association

This case law review was presented to the Assigned Judges at their conference in October, 2017.
Assigned Judges Juvenile Case Law Review (2016–2017)

This is a trial court decision concerning whether a child can determine the medical treatment she will receive.  It was publicized all over the world.
In re D.P., Superior Court of California for Santa Clara County (July 3, 1986)

This is the only time a jury has been convened in a juvenile delinquency case in California.
People v Superior Court (In re Carl W.), 15 Cal.3d 271 (1975) [Also available online from California Official Reports Page]