Diane Monahan defends the children of the St. Louis area. She is the family court commissioner for St. Louis County and deals with cases ranging from juvenile delinquency to abuse and neglect.
After attending St. Louis University, Monahan started practicing law as a criminal defense attorney.
“The firm that I worked with started doing some domestic cases,†Monahan said. “What I found in the domestic work as time went on, is that I really liked doing guardian ad litem work where I actually repre- sented the kids instead of the parents.â€
For the cases involving juvenile delinquency, Monahan’s main goal is to establish a suitable path to rehabilitation, rather than punishment.
“What we do here is until you’re 17 you’re considered a juvenile for criminal purposes,†Monahan said. “Instead of punishing you by sending you off to prison and then letting you out when you’re finished with your term, we do try to rehabilitate and provide resources so we don’t have kids reoffending.â€
She splits her time between cases involving children that have been mistreated and children that have misbehaved, but many times her cases also involve mental health and drug problems.
“We provide as much assistance as we can. We get mental health care- takers for these people and get them on a mental health regimen. We help them in drug treatment. We help them by providing educational opportunities and mentorships. We try to provide safety for those kids that are abused and neglected, provide a good home for them. The ul- timate goal is to assist people in becoming the best that they can be,†Monahan said.
While she deals with some of the most heart wrenching cases that go to court, Monahan stays grateful for her position. “I like the fact that I can just focus on the kids and not so much on everybody else,†Monahan said. “I come away from my job appreciating how much I have and how much I’ve been able to do with my life.â€
Socko Brown • Mar 19, 2019 at 4:26 pm
The sentencing of one ill mannered and poorly parented young man does not define the judge’s career. I would imagine more went on during this trial than what was mentioned here.
harris • Feb 10, 2016 at 4:41 am
It is interesting that this Commissioner chooses to state she was threatened and placed in fear by a child who was shackeled and in custody. It is also interesting that she is choosing to try and have this African American male certified as an adult and charged with a felony based on her allegations he threatened her…. Because he said F you ugly B**** . Does not constitute a threat. Also, if you are so intimidated by a young African American Male how can you sit in Judgement of them, as it is not possible to impartially and unbiasly judge those one fears. Or did you file charges as a preemtive strike to keep your job as commissioner as your four years is about to expire and a valid complaint could terminate your employment. Did you forget the Department of Justice findings or is this a desperate income retention move on your part.
Will • Jan 28, 2016 at 8:50 am
Why did Department of Justice find the St louis ccounty department of juvenile services guilty of racial bias against African-American males. This woman has perpetuated discrimination and utilized her position in the courts to promote it. I pray a civil is brought against her! Look up department of justice findings
Willia • Jan 26, 2016 at 11:20 pm
his woman sneered at and gave an African American male 16 year old the max she could because he called her old ugly and white. she stated there where no resources available to the young man, yet his family was willing to pay for 24 hour monitoring and tutoring on house arrest. The juvenile was there for a non violent crime. This wonderful judge you speak of released a white male juvenile offender for a violent repeat offense to house arrest. The previous mentioned young man was shackled and posed no immediate threat, however when he yelled out at the judge, she demanded his removal, and he was choked and dragged from court room there was no cause for the excessive force as he was shackled as they do federal prisoners who are considered dangerous, (waist, hands, leg irons) She utilized her Judiciary position to settle a vendetta against a child because she did not and could not handle the verbal attack “as a secure adult female would”. The young mans mother had also previously spoken to the press about the Juvenile courts not certifying the 15 year old who murdered her 3 year old during a sleep over. So I guess the Commissioner showed his Mom she needs to keep her mouth shut.
The justice department should be contacted regarding this as St Louis Count has been cited ,by the Department of Justice for Unfair bias treatment of African american males. So if she is so wonderful of a commissioner why the findings of the Department of Justice, perhaps because they are aware of the aforementioned behaviors, and realized the bias and abuse of power. Who smirks, and calls a child and animal, is this not a form of abuse? The Department of Justice has documented the disparity of treatment thoroughly, and yet it continues.