Supreme Court Ruling On Juvenile Justice Faces Criticism

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Posted: 7:21 PM Jun 23, 2008
Last Updated: 7:21 PM Jun 23, 2008
Reporter: Abby Barnett
Email Address: abby.barnett@kake.com

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Friday's Supreme Court decision to give juveniles charged with criminal offenses the option of trial by jury is expected to take a toll on Kansas' already strained resources.

The decision is expected to hit Sedgwick County especially hard because if juveniles do decide to be tried by a jury, the trial cannot take place in the new juvenile facility that is currently under construction. The facility would need to be redesigned to accommodate jury trials, which would come with a hefty price tag.

The alternative, to hold juvenile jury trials in adult courts, would delay an already backed up adult judicial system.

District Attorney Nola Foulston said that more money has not been allocated to cover the increased financial burden.

"My staff is comprised of dedicated professionals and we will move promptly to meet our legal obligations as required by law, despite the limited resources," Foulston said.

The project manager on the new juvenile campus said that their new facility did not anticipate needing space for juries. Project officials will meet with the county commission Tuesday to discuss the issue.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:47 PM
more critisizm would show up if you would post what has been sent in.

Posted by: AJ Location: Wichita on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Next their will be crying that juveniles should be treated different. If a junvinel does an adult crime then have the jury trial otherwise whats wrong with keeping the system as is. The stupid supreme court is always causing problems their getting as bad as the stupid ACLU.

Posted by: GG Location: Kansas on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Are not juveniles subject to the same RIGHTS under the Constitution of this Republic or does one have to be of a "select" age before one has Constitutional Rights? Why does age preclude one from having a jury trial when one is charged with crimes? Far too long have juveniles been treated as Second Class members of society. Read Section 1 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of this REPUBLIC.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Jun 24, 2008 at 10:41 AM
whats next? death penalties for toddlers? where is the funding coming from for all the jury trials? it was already in the law, for serious crimes, juries were used for juveniles.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Jun 24, 2008 at 08:29 AM
so the judiciary branch makes some more work for themselvs, all three branches are supposed to have checks and balances with each other, what are the checks on the judiciary? they are not elected, and who tells them that their decisions are stupid?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Way to go Supreme Court, way to make our taxes go higher!

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