Juvenile Court Certification Training

Juvenile Court Certification training for district court judges is based on G.S. 7A-147(c), which reads:

• (c) The policy of the State is to encourage specialization in juvenile cases by district court judges who are qualified by training and temperament to be effective in relating to youth and in the use of appropriate community resources to meet their needs. The Administrative Office of the Courts is therefore authorized to encourage judges who hear juvenile cases to secure appropriate training whether or not they were elected to a specialized judgeship as provided herein. Such training shall be provided within the funds available to the Administrative Office of the Courts for such training, and judges attending such training shall be reimbursed for travel and subsistence expenses at the same rate as is applicable to other State employees.

• The Administrative Office of the Courts shall develop a plan whereby a district court judge may be better qualified to hear juvenile cases by reason of training, experience, and demonstrated ability. Any district court judge who completes the training under this plan shall receive a certificate to this effect from the Administrative Office of the Courts. In districts where there is a district court judge who has completed this training as herein provided, the chief district judge shall give due consideration in the assignment of such cases where practical and feasible.

Any judge may obtain the three juvenile certifications listed below. A judge must complete the Juvenile Court Certification before being certified in either of the advanced certifications, however, they can attend courses for all three simultaneously.

• Juvenile Court Certification
• Advanced Juvenile Justice Certification
• Advanced Child Welfare Certification