Federal judge, 95, is trimming his caseload
DETROIT (AP) — A 95-year-old Detroit federal judge is reducing is caseload after 40 years on the bench.
U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn, Eastern District of Michigan, is dropping criminal cases and will handle only civil lawsuits.
“Judge Cohn is in his mid-90s and has been carrying a full caseload for all these years,” court spokesman David Ashenfelter said. “He has decided that it’s time to cut back.”
Cohn was appointed in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. He qualified for “senior status” in 1999, which can trigger a smaller caseload and give the court an opportunity to get an additional judge. But Cohn didn’t change his duties.
Diversion program announced for youth in some criminal cases
DETROIT (AP) — The Wayne County prosecutor’s office and a community-based nonprofit are partnering on a juvenile diversion program that will serve as an alternative to charging children and teenagers with minor property damage, theft, simple assault and similar offenses.
Young people will meet with authorities and victims of their crimes as part of the “Talk It Out” program to develop solutions short of formal charges, Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Monday.
Counseling and other services could be part of those solutions. A juvenile will only be considered for acceptance once in the program.
The Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center is working with the prosecutor’s office.
Assistant prosecutors will evaluate new delinquency complaints to determine which cases are appropriate to recommend for the program.
Eligible cases must have no more than one victim, and a parent or guardian of the juvenile must be willing to transport that child to mediation meetings. Victims must agree to the referral and mediation process before cases are accepted.
“This program gives crime victims a voice and opportunity to impact the lives of the youth who victimized them,” Worthy said in a release. “Collaboratively, it is our hope that if they successfully complete the recommended course of action, fewer juveniles will find themselves charged with a delinquency offense that may result in a delinquency record.”
The prosecutor’s office juvenile division handles thousands of delinquency cases each year and many of those cases go to court, Worthy’s office said.
Young people charged criminally may face school suspensions or expulsions and loss of college scholarships or denial of college admissions. They also may be required to list a juvenile delinquency record on job or military applications.
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