Author Archives: tbirckhe

To Defend a Terrorist: Reflections on Reid, Tsarnaev & How I Got from There to Here

Posted on May 3, 2013 by tbirckhe

Since my last post, I’ve been occupied with putting myself out there (via print, radio & cable news) to share the message that even those charged with the most heinous offenses are still human beings, that we are each more … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Criminal /Juvenile Defense, Death Penalty, Sentencing, Terrorism cases, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Telling the Whole Truth about Juvenile Incarceration Rates

Posted on March 26, 2013 by tbirckhe

While a new report finds that juvenile incarceration rates are declining in the United States, there is more to the story than just the numbers.  In this guest post, Jason Langberg, staff attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, examines … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Conditions of Confinement, Delinquency, Juveniles, North Carolina, Race, Class, Ethnicity, Reports, School to Prison Pipeline, State Laws | Leave a comment

Steubenville: The Names Change, but the Story Stays the Same

Posted on March 23, 2013 by tbirckhe

“My life is over. No one is going to want me now.” These were the words of 16-year-old Ma’lik Richmond after a judge adjudicated him delinquent of rape earlier this week in juvenile court in Steubenville, Ohio. Hyperbole? Perhaps. But … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Delinquency, Education, Gender, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Media, Sentencing | 1 Comment

From Prison to Juvenile Justice Lawyer

Posted on March 11, 2013 by tbirckhe

I am a sucker for a feel-good story, and this is the best one I’ve come across in a long time.  It’s from the San Francisco Chronicle, written by Meredith May, and here’s how it opens: A group of incarcerated teenage … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Juveniles, Law Schools, Law Students, Legal Profession, Rehabilitation, Sentencing, Training | 1 Comment

School Policing Reform: Much Needed and Long Overdue

Posted on March 10, 2013 by tbirckhe

Law enforcement officers have become commonplace in public schools throughout the United States over the last two decades. However, law enforcement officers who are permanently assigned to schools – called school resource officers (SROs) – can have negative impacts on … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Education, Guest Blogger, North Carolina, School to Prison Pipeline, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New Article on the Role of Counsel in the Sentencing Phase of a Juvenile Delinquency Case

Posted on March 8, 2013 by tbirckhe

It’s always struck me as ironic that the criminal defense of adults is considered to be more “advanced” and “complicated” than the defense of young people in juvenile court.  Having practiced in both realms, I have personally found representing children … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Criminal /Juvenile Defense, Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Legal Scholarship, Sentencing | 2 Comments

MacArthur Grant for Northwestern Law’s Children and Family Justice Center

Posted on March 1, 2013 by tbirckhe

Legal education is under attack — and rightly so.  Corporate law firms are downsizing.  State budgets are shrinking.  Non-profits are shutting their doors, and student debt is exploding.  In this climate, those of us who are engaged in training our … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Advocacy, Awards, Clinical Legal Education, Law Schools, Law Students, Legal Profession, Organizations | Leave a comment

Kids, Cops, and Confessions: Inside the Interrogation Room

Posted on February 10, 2013 by tbirckhe

During my ten years practicing in juvenile delinquency court, I’ve been struck by the overwhelming number of cases in which youth readily confess to police — often school resource officers.  Sophisticated interrogation techniques are usually not required.  The officer need … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Books, Interrogation, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Legal Scholarship | 1 Comment

“Children are Different:” Constitutional Values and Justice Policy

Posted on January 23, 2013 by tbirckhe

The title of this post is the title of a notable new law review essay by Professor Elizabeth Scott of Columbia Law School, which is forthcoming in the Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law.  The article is posted and available via … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Adult Court, Analysis, Legal Scholarship, Miller v. Alabama, Sentencing, U.S. Supreme Court | 3 Comments

Public-Private Partnerships: The Power to Make a Difference for Youth, Families and Communities

Posted on January 22, 2013 by tbirckhe

      The title of this post is the title of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association’s 2013 Adolescent Conference planned for February 19-20, 2013, in Orlando, Florida. The conference schedule features two dynamic keynote speakers, a wide choice of among 30 … Continue reading →

Spread Juvenile Justice, Share!
Posted in Children, Conferences, Poverty, Training | Leave a comment