§ 722.10 Youth part of the superior court established.

1. The chief administrator of the courts is hereby directed to
establish, in a superior court in each county of the state, a part of
the court to be known as the youth part of the superior court for the
county in which such court presides. Judges presiding in the youth part
shall be family court judges, as described in article six, section one
of the constitution. To aid in their work, such judges shall receive
training in specialized areas, including, but not limited to, juvenile
justice, adolescent development, custody and care of youths and
effective treatment methods for reducing unlawful conduct by youths, and
shall be authorized to make appropriate determinations within the power
of such superior court with respect to the cases of youths assigned to
such part. The youth part shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all
proceedings in relation to juvenile offenders and adolescent offenders,
except as provided in this article or article seven hundred twenty-five
of this chapter.

2. The chief administrator of the courts shall also direct the
presiding justice of the appellate division, in each judicial department
of the state, to designate judges authorized by law to exercise criminal
jurisdiction to serve as accessible magistrates, for the purpose of
acting in place of the youth part for certain first appearance
proceedings involving youths, as provided by law. When designating such
magistrates, the presiding justice shall ensure that all areas of a
county are within a reasonable distance of a designated magistrate. A
judge authorized to preside as such a magistrate shall have received
training in specialized areas, including, but not limited to, juvenile
justice, adolescent development, custody and care of youths and
effective treatment methods for reducing unlawful conduct by youths.