5/11/06 -- NCJFCJ congratulates Judge Michael Nash, Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court of the Los Angeles Superior Court and member of NCJFCJ’s Board of Trustees, recently named the 2006 “Judge of the Year” by the National CASA Association. The award was presented April 2, 2006 at the 25th Annual CASA National Conference in San Diego, California.

Judge Nash was recognized for his innovative vision and leadership which has led to major improvements benefiting the Edmund D. Edelman’s Children’s Court and the Los Angeles child welfare system. Judge Nash has overseen the creation of Los Angeles’ first juvenile mental health court and first juvenile drug court, as well as other notable improvements in services to at-risk youth and their families. Since Judge Nash implemented Adoption Saturdays in 1998, more than 9,000 foster children have been adopted at the Edelman Children’s Court.

Judge Nash has served on the Superior Court bench since 1989, and currently serves as Lead Judge in NCJFCJ’s Child Victims Act Model Court Project. The Los Angeles Juvenile Court is one of 31 Model Courts around the country that is implementing strategies designed to improve the courts’ handling of child abuse and neglect cases.

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. More than 900 CASA programs are operating around the country.