Juvenile & Dependency Judge Intelligence
Juvenile and dependency proceedings are among the most consequential in California courts. CCI profiles how judges approach WIC 300 detention hearings, reunification timelines, section 366.26 permanency decisions, and juvenile delinquency dispositions.
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Built for juvenile & dependency
Why Juvenile & Dependency Practitioners Love CCI
Dependency detention hearing patterns: how judges weigh the detention criteria, what alternatives to removal they consider, and how quickly they order reunification services.
Section 366.26 termination of parental rights intelligence: how judges approach the beneficial relationship exception, sibling relationship exception, and Indian Child Welfare Act compliance.
Juvenile delinquency dispositions: whether judges favor diversion, probation, or commitment — and how they approach fitness hearings and direct file cases.
Judge profiles
Top Juvenile & Dependency Judges
Profiles from the most-researched juvenile & dependency departments across California.
Judge Theresa M. Traber
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles
Judge Stephen M. Pulido
Hayward Hall of Justice, Hayward
Judge Benjamin T. Reyes, II
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez
Judge Albert A. Erkel
Judge Jeffrey Erickson
Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse, Rancho Cucamonga
Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni
Downtown Superior Court, San Jose
What CCI tracks
Key Metrics for Juvenile & Dependency
Detention Hearing Removal Rate
How often judges sustain detention in dependency cases at the initial and jurisdictional hearing stages.
e.g., Detention sustained at initial hearing in 71% of petitionsReunification Service Grant Rate
How readily judges order reunification services at the dispositional hearing and what plans they find adequate.
e.g., Reunification services ordered in 83% of first-time petitions366.26 Adoption Termination Rate
How often judges terminate parental rights at the section 366.26 hearing vs. selecting a less permanent plan.
e.g., Parental rights terminated in 79% of adoption-eligible hearingsJuvenile Diversion Grant Rate
How often judges grant informal or formal diversion in delinquency matters — by offense category.
e.g., Diversion granted in 64% of first-offense misdemeanorsStrategic intelligence
Juvenile & Dependency Strategy Guide
Practical guidance for using judge intelligence in juvenile & dependency practice.
Detention hearing preparation is critical because judicial momentum is hard to reverse. Know whether your judge accepts community-based alternatives to detention and what safety plans they find credible.
In section 366.26 hearings, the beneficial relationship exception requires showing both the existence and the benefit of the parent-child relationship — and courts vary on how they weigh competing interests. Research your judge's prior rulings on this exception before the hearing.
ICWA compliance is jurisdictional in dependency proceedings. Some judges scrutinize agency inquiry efforts aggressively; others accept minimal documentation. Know the standard before you file.
In delinquency fitness hearings, judicial assessments of criminal sophistication, prior delinquency history, and rehabilitative potential vary enormously. Build your fitness report evidence for the specific judge assigned to the matter.
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Find Juvenile & Dependency Judges
Showing 6 of 6 judges
Judge Theresa M. Traber
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles
Judge Stephen M. Pulido
Hayward Hall of Justice, Hayward
Judge Benjamin T. Reyes, II
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez
Judge Albert A. Erkel
Judge Jeffrey Erickson
Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse, Rancho Cucamonga
Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni
Downtown Superior Court, San Jose
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Related Juvenile & Dependency Resources
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Know your juvenile & dependency judge
Juvenile & Dependency outcomes are judge-dependent. Give yourself and your clients the intelligence advantage before every hearing.
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