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Colorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
______
Sept. 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
Denver Juvenile Court celebrates centennial
DENVER (Sept. 15, 2003) – About 150 children from Denver middle schools will be joining with state lawmakers, lawyers, judges and social service agencies to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Denver Juvenile Court on Friday, Sept. 19, at the City & County Building in downtown Denver. The children are students at Hill Middle School and Morey Middle School.
“Before there was a separate court, there was no orientation toward rehabilitation,” said Judge Karen M. Ashby, presiding judge of the Denver Juvenile Court. “The focus was only on retribution and keeping the community safe. With the ascent of the juvenile court there was the understanding that juveniles should be treated differently from adults, and that this was a meaningful opportunity for them to redirect their lives.”
Establishing a separate court system for children was a revolutionary step in the development of the American justice system. By creating a legal avenue specifically for juveniles, courts were able to focus on the rehabilitation of minors who break laws – rather than merely locking them away.
The City of Denver opened the nation’s first juvenile court west of the Mississippi River in 1903; it was the second juvenile court in the United States, preceded only by Chicago.
Centennial activities will begin at 10 a.m. with proclamations from the offices of the Mayor and the Governor, along with an introduction from Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey. The festivities will occur in the City Council Chambers on the fourth floor.
Students will break into small groups to meet one-on-one with judges, as well as with caseworkers, court interpreters, attorneys and the staff of the Denver Juvenile Court. Historical documents and items will also be on display on the second floor.
To cap off the festivities, a banquet will be held to celebrate the centennial at the City & County Building at 5:30 p.m. The event will also reunite current and former juvenile court employees. It is anticipated that Denver City Council members, state legislators and Colorado Supreme Court justices will be in attendance.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will be speaking at the dinner. Attendees will also hear from former and present judges of the Denver Juvenile Court.
The Denver Juvenile Court employs 97 people, including three judges, two magistrates and 70 juvenile probation employees. In 2002, the court handled 6,000 new cases, including paternity and support, neglect, delinquency, truancy, relinquishment and adoption.
The day’s schedule includes:
10 a.m. Welcome remarks – Room 450, fourth floor
10:15 a.m. Breakout groups with students – Room 450, fourth floor
5:30 p.m. Banquet on second floor rotunda, with speech by Mayor John Hickenlooper
Event contacts:
Barbara Bosley (720) 865-8236 or cell phone (303) 638-5098,
Robin Blackwell, clerk of court, 720-865-8248
For more information: 100.juvenilelaw.net
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