The Unique Role of the Judge in Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: Advice From the Field

The role of the juvenile drug treatment court judge is unique. Juvenile drug treatment court judges must balance the role of team leader with their role as the “face” of the juvenile drug treatment court in the courtroom. This requires an understanding of therapeutic jurisprudence, adolescent development, data-driven decisions, and many other complex concepts. The Unique Role of the Judge in Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts is a bench card that is designed for new juvenile drug treatment court judges. The publication offers practical advice from other juvenile drug treatment court judges about dealing with ethical concerns, team dynamics, family engagement, and community outreach.