Retiring Sixth Judicial District Judge Richard Wagner sat in on his last budget meeting with the commissioners from the three counties he's served on the bench.
Wagner was joined by Judge Michael Montero and long-time Judicial Assistant and Drug Court Coordinator Rosa Sanchez.
The Sixth Judicial District covers Humboldt, Lander, and Pershing counties and the budget for the court is split 60 percent Humboldt, 20 percent Lander and 20 percent Pershing.
Sixth Judicial District judges oversee the juvenile department in the three counties. Wagner remembered when he began as judge he toured the juvenile department in Humboldt County, which was then housed in the quonset huts in the Sage Heights area off of U.S. 95.
"I worked with the county commissioners, understanding that those facilities weren't good enough to work with the young people in our community," said Wagner. He said juvenile services were of prime importance to turn young people around before they get to the point where they're before a judge being sentenced to prison.
"I've dedicated the last part of my career focusing on the juvenile department; that's where the battle is," he said. "The battle isn't getting easier, the world isn't getting easier."
"We've come a long way; we have a great facility now in Humboldt County and we've streamlined the administration."
Long-time Juvenile Court Master Sam Mattheney was once supervised by the juvenile department administration. Wagner said he determined the Juvenile Court Master shouldn't be supervised by the juvenile department but by the judicial department - and that change was made.
Proposing another change, Montero told commissioners he believes the Juvenile Court Master should work out of the courthouse rather than the Leighton Hall Juvenile Detention Facility near the Humboldt County Jail.
"Part of the reason is that the official files of juvenile court and district court are housed at the courthouse," said Montero, adding sometimes there is confusion about what is in the official file.
Montero also explained the Juvenile Court Master shouldn't have his office in the juvenile department to preserve the "independence of the judiciary."
"It would be like me having my office next to the Department of Parole and Probation," said Montero. "There just may be some things that the judge shouldn't hear to preserve that independence."
Montero acknowledged the change may not be possible for some time, saying he didn't know of a specific place for the Juvenile Court Master in the courthouse, adding he believes there are additional changes need to be made to the courtroom situation for district and justice court.
Speaking to a budget request for an administrative assistant for the Juvenile Court Master, both judges said they believed there was more than enough work coming out of the juvenile department to justify the position. The three counties authorized that request in approving budgets for Sixth Judicial District Court, the Juvenile Department, court reporters, and drug court.
Regarding drug court, judges and commissioners lamented the upcoming retirement of Sanchez, who they described as having been "central to the development of many Sixth Judicial District Court programs for decades," as well as the drug court coordinator for Humboldt County since drug court began. She also assists Pershing and Lander with drug court work.[[In-content Ad]]
