Cecil B. Patterson, Jr., Arizona Court of Appeals Division One Judge, Speaks on Juvenile Justice Issues
Judge Cecil B. Patterson, Jr. spoke to students and faculty at Washburn University School of Law on Friday, March 30, 2001 about "The Juvenile Justice System: The Impact of Courts on Hispanic and African-American Juveniles."
Patterson's remarks were based on the situation in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding communities and his experience with public and private philanthropic efforts to deal with juvenile justice issues. He reviewed problems facing families and youth, including the fact two income and single parent families seem to be the norm. Particularly during the hours after school, parents have relinquished oversight of their children to other authorities. Children, left alone with minimal supervision, are likely to experiment and be creative in the activities they become involved with. Criminal conduct by juveniles has "matured," meaning that their activities are more adult-like and serious than in the past.
Judge Patterson reviewed several initiatives which have attempted to deal with juvenile issues. These initiatives include:
- The Arizona Building Blocks program;
- Establishment of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections in 1990, effectively separating juvenile offenders from adults;
- A 1996 constitutional amendment and subsequent legislation which treats violent juvenile offenders aged 15 and over as felony offenders, diverting them to the adult court system;
- The Model Courts Program aimed at improving the handling of juvenile cases and moving them through the system more quickly.
Judge Patterson observed that many juvenile justice issues are in a state of flux and that we must keep in mind that our most precious resource, children, are involved. The success of any initiative is still dependant in large part upon parents supervising their children so that proper values are developed.
Cecil Patterson was appointed to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals by Governor Symington in 1995. He is the first African-American judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Judge Patterson received the "Living the Dream" Award from the City of Phoenix Human Relations Commission, the Heman Sweatt Service Award from the National Bar Association's Judicial Council as well as the Thomas Bradley Community Service Award presented by the Western Province of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Judge Patterson has served on the City of Phoenix Ad Hoc Use of Force/Cultural Awareness Task Force, the Minority Advisory Committee at Arizona State University, and the Board of Directors of the YMCA and Valley of the Sun United Way. Other community activities include service on the National Association of Attorneys General Civil Rights Commission, the Board of Directors at the Maricopa County Branch of the NAACP, the Maricopa County Red Cross, and Southminster Community Services Forum.
Judge Patterson graduated from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 1963, and served five years as an officer in the United States Air Force. He then earned his law degree from Arizona State University in 1971. From 1971 to 1975, Judge Patterson practiced with the Legal Aid Society, the Phoenix Urban League and as a partner with the firm of Bursh and Patterson. From 1975 to 1980, he was a trial attorney with the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office. In 1980, Judge Patterson was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court. He served on thesuperior court bench until 1991, when he took a position as Chief Counsel of the Human Service Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
