WHO WE ARE
Meet the directors behind
Orange County Youth Court
Keith Jung | Freshman at Emory University
Founder, Orange County Youth Court
Ex-Youth Advisory Board, California Association of Youth Courts
Captain, Riverside Youth Court
My name is Keith Jung, I’ve been with Riverside Youth Court since 2022. My time there has influenced me profoundly and led me to co-found the Orange County Youth Court. I became captain in 2023 when I spoke over the radio to publicize youth court, and was personally awarded a certificate by the Riverside Chief of Police. My time in youth court has demonstrated that respondents (offenders) can change and can show sympathy. Youth court humanizes people contrary to the strict vice of the regular juvenile system. In youth court, the stress of court is minimized so that respondents, jurors, and the judge all actively participate in an open conversation rather than an interrogation. In many cases, I’ve seen respondents openly admit to everything they committed without lies and the causation of the problem is found and removed. Hearing countless stories, it left a lasting effect where every person has their unique reasons for doing what they did. That humanization and opening of perspective is why I founded the Orange County Youth Court.
Justin Choi | Freshman at UC Berkeley
Founder, Orange County Youth Court
President, Law Cohort Board​
My name is Justin Choi, and I co-founded the Orange County Youth Court after witnessing a court proceeding where a peer, just slightly older than me, pleaded guilty out of fear and confusion. This moment made me realize the need for change—a system where young people are guided, not intimidated. The Orange County Youth Court is designed to provide a rehabilitative, less rigid alternative to the traditional justice system. We aim to give youth second chances while helping them understand their potential. Alongside my work in youth court, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with the South Korea Ministry of Justice, leading a student art exhibition advocating for justice and juvenile crime prevention and raising $47,000 over four years to support this cause. I wish to bring that same spirit of advocacy and impact to the youth court, where we can ensure that the youth feel empowered to grow and learn rather than being caught in a system that doesn’t always have their best interests at heart.
“The worst form of injustice is pretended justice.”
PLATO