Did you know the first juvenile court west of the Mississippi River was born right here in Denver? That’s right. The man who spearheaded the movement here is none other than Judge Benjamin Barr Lindsey! If the name sounds familiar, that is because his name appears on the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. His name stands alongside Judge James C. Flanigan, who is honored for serving as the first Black judge elected to the Denver District Court.
Judge Lindsey worked with young boys within the court system at a time when if you were 10-years old and committed a crime, you would be incarcerated with adults. Believing that young boys in Denver deserved a chance at rehabilitation and a mentor in their lives, Lindsey proudly assumed this role and became known as the “Kid’s Judge”. Having grown up without his father, he empathized with these boys and would advocate for these young men even after relocating to Los Angeles.
Lindsey left a lasting legacy and would reach national fame with the release of his social narrative of Denver called “The Beast”, applauded by none other than Upton Sinclair, author of “The Jungle”.
Courtesy of Eilish Brennan. Photo courtesy of History Colorado (#686.296.1170)