What Does the Judge Do in Juvenile Dependency Court?

Judges in dependency court do all the jobs judges usually do, except that there is no jury in dependency court. The judge is the one who makes the final decision about what happens in a case.

It is the judge’s job to listen to what everyone says in court. The judge knows what the law is and decides what needs to happen to keep kids safe. If the judge asks you a question, it is very important for you to tell the truth. The judge needs to know the truth to make the best decision for you. If you stay in foster care after age 18, you get to tell the judge where you want to live and why.

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